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Proposed Development |
Northstowe will be a sustainable and exemplar new town for the 21st century drawing upon the traditions of fen-edge market towns.The Northstowe proposals are the culmination of over two years’ design work. Sustainability is a fundamental feature of the new town, which will incorporate a range of measures to deliver increasing levels of energy, water and waste efficiency throughout the life of the development. Northstowe is not one of the highly publicised eco-towns as the planning for the new town began many years prior to the Governments current eco-town proposals. However many of the eco-town principles and criteria of sustainability will feature at Northstowe creating what former Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper described in 2007 a “prototype for eco-towns". Northstowe will be a town defined by its relationship between an urban and rural setting. By respecting its location and environment, Northstowe will integrate with its surroundings and engender a sustainable future for both. This relationship will be achieved by the creation of a landscape of green corridors, parks and flood containment areas within the new town. Accessibility to nature and open spaces, whether for sport, recreation, education or for travelling across the town has been a fundamental principle in the development of the proposals. In keeping with the region’s historic market towns, Northstowe’s presence will be contained. Its edges will be clearly defined thereby maintaining not just the openness of the separation with the existing communities, but also the creation of a distinct outer boundary to the town to avoid coalescence with the villages of Longstanton and Oakington. |