Northstowe
Two new cohousing communities coming to Northstowe, near Cambridge.
Designed with future residents, these homes offer more than just a place to live: they offer a built-in support network, community, and a say in how your neighbourhood takes shape. Register your interest now to find out more, join a workshop, or talk to someone already involved.
Northstowe
Two new cohousing communities coming to Northstowe, near Cambridge.
Designed with future residents, these homes offer more than just a place to live: they offer a built-in support network, community, and a say in how your neighbourhood takes shape. Register your interest now to find out more, join a workshop, or talk to someone already involved.
Northstowe’s car-free lane.
TOWN is working in partnership with Homes England to create a new neighbourhood at Northstowe, one of the most ambitious new towns in the UK.
This is the first project under a Joint Venture with Hill Group – one of the UK’s leading housebuilders. Among the 145 homes we’re planning are two new cohousing communities, alongside a mix of homes for market sale, rent and affordable housing.
Northstowe’s car-free lane.
TOWN is working in partnership with Homes England to create a new neighbourhood at Northstowe, one of the most ambitious new towns in the UK.
This is the first project under a Joint Venture with Hill Group – one of the UK’s leading housebuilders. Among the 145 homes we’re planning are two new cohousing communities, alongside a mix of homes for market sale, rent and affordable housing.
What is Northstowe?
Northstowe is a growing new town just ten miles from Cambridge. It’s being developed by Homes England as a place for around 25,000 people, with 10,000 homes, a new town centre, schools, green spaces, and everything a thriving community needs.
Homes England is partnering with TOWN to deliver a 145-home neighbourhood at Northstowe, building on the success of Marmalade Lane — TOWN’s award-winning cohousing community in Cambridge.
Aerial shot of Northstowe.
Aerial shot of Northstowe.
What is Northstowe?
Northstowe is a growing new town just ten miles from Cambridge. It’s being developed by Homes England as a place for around 25,000 people, with 10,000 homes, a new town centre, schools, green spaces, and everything a thriving community needs.
Homes England is partnering with TOWN to deliver a 145-home neighbourhood at Northstowe, building on the success of Marmalade Lane — TOWN’s award-winning cohousing community in Cambridge.
What is TOWN building?
We’re creating around 145 homes in total, including two cohousing communities, each with around 40-50 homes. One of them is being developed with Suvana Cohousing—a group of people building an intergenerational community grounded in Buddhist values. Alongside Suvana, we’re developing a second cohousing community with a broader focus, open to anyone who wants to live more cooperatively and shape a neighbourhood from the ground up.
The two communities will provide private homes with shared spaces that bring people together. Whether it’s a communal garden, a kitchen for shared meals, or a space to work, host, or unwind, cohousing gives you more than just a home – it gives you neighbours, community, and the chance to shape the place you live.
The cohousing communities at Northstowe.
The cohousing communities at Northstowe.
What is TOWN building?
We’re creating around 145 homes in total, including two cohousing communities, each with around 40-50 homes. One of them is being developed with Suvana Cohousing—a group of people building an intergenerational community grounded in Buddhist values. Alongside Suvana, we’re developing a second cohousing community with a broader focus, open to anyone who wants to live more cooperatively and shape a neighbourhood from the ground up.
The two communities will provide private homes with shared spaces that bring people together. Whether it’s a communal garden, a kitchen for shared meals, or a space to work, host, or unwind, cohousing gives you more than just a home – it gives you neighbours, community, and the chance to shape the place you live.
What will the homes and community be like?
There’ll be a range of homes, from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom family houses, each with its own front door and outdoor space – like a balcony, a terrace or a small garden. Between the homes will be shared spaces: a large garden where children can play and residents can grow food, a Common House for cooking and eating together, and places to work from home, exercise, have community meetings or host guests.
These shared spaces will form the social heart of the community. They make it easier to meet people, to learn from each other, and to support one another in everyday life. And because resources are shared, it’s more space-efficient, more affordable and more sustainable too.
At the centre of the neighbourhood, between the two cohousing communities, will be a low-car play street – a safe place where children can play within sight of their homes and neighbours can stop for a chat. We’re designing the whole place to support a slower, more sociable way of living.
The shared garden at Northstowe Cohousing.
The shared garden at Northstowe Cohousing.
What will the homes and community be like?
There’ll be a range of homes, from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom family houses, each with its own front door and outdoor space – like a balcony, a terrace or a small garden. Between the homes will be shared spaces: a large garden where children can play and residents can grow food, a Common House for cooking and eating together, and places to work from home, exercise, have community meetings or host guests.
These shared spaces will form the social heart of the community. They make it easier to meet people, to learn from each other, and to support one another in everyday life. And because resources are shared, it’s more space-efficient, more affordable and more sustainable too.
At the centre of the neighbourhood, between the two cohousing communities, will be a low-car play street – a safe place where children can play within sight of their homes and neighbours can stop for a chat. We’re designing the whole place to support a slower, more sociable way of living.
Images of the future community by Mole architects.
A vision for the community
Future residents of Suvana Cohousing – one of two cohousing communities coming to Northstowe – talk about their vision for the community.
Images of the future community by Mole architects.
A vision for the community
Future residents of Suvana Cohousing – one of two cohousing communities coming to Northstowe – talk about their vision for the community.
Where are things up to?
Since autumn 2024, we’ve been working closely with future residents through a co-design process, holding regular workshops to explore everything from shared spaces and sustainability to the layout of individual homes. This approach means the homes are shaped by the people who will live in them – so they’re more likely to feel right, work well, and support a strong sense of community. It’s better for residents because the neighbourhood reflects their needs and values, and it’s better for TOWN because we’re building homes we already know people want to live in.
We submitted a planning application for the scheme in November 2025. That means there’s still time to get involved, especially as we move into the detailed design phase after planning.
You can view the latest plans for Northstowe in our consultation boards via the button below.
A codesign workshop for Northstowe Cohousing.
A codesign workshop for Northstowe Cohousing.
Where are things up to?
Since autumn 2024, we’ve been working closely with future residents through a co-design process, holding regular workshops to explore everything from shared spaces and sustainability to the layout of individual homes. This approach means the homes are shaped by the people who will live in them – so they’re more likely to feel right, work well, and support a strong sense of community. It’s better for residents because the neighbourhood reflects their needs and values, and it’s better for TOWN because we’re building homes we already know people want to live in.
We submitted a planning application for the scheme in November 2025. That means there’s still time to get involved, especially as we move into the detailed design phase after planning.
You can view the latest plans for Northstowe in our consultation boards via the button below.
TOWN is the UK’s leading cohousing developer – have a look at our other communities!
Cohousing brings people with shared values together in communities they help conceive, design and manage. Want to know your neighbours and find more sustainable, community-oriented ways of living? Try cohousing.
TOWN is the UK’s leading cohousing developer – have a look at our other communities!
Cohousing brings people with shared values together in communities they help conceive, design and manage. Want to know your neighbours and find more sustainable, community-oriented ways of living? Try cohousing.
When will the homes be ready?
We’re aiming to start construction in 2026, with the first homes ready to move into from late 2027. If you’re interested in being part of this, now is the time to get involved.
Homes at Marmalade Lane cohousing community.
Homes at Marmalade Lane cohousing community.
When will the homes be ready?
We’re aiming to start construction in 2026, with the first homes ready to move into from late 2027. If you’re interested in being part of this, now is the time to get involved.
Register your interest in Northstowe Cohousing
By registering your interest in Northstowe Cohousing, you can speak to Frances Wright, TOWN’s Head of Community Partnering (and a Marmalade Lane resident!) who can tell you more about how the project is developing and how to take part. You can join a codesign workshop, meet some of the people already involved, and hear why they’ve chosen cohousing.
Register your interest in Northstowe Cohousing
By registering your interest in Northstowe Cohousing, you can speak to Frances Wright, TOWN’s Head of Community Partnering (and a Marmalade Lane resident!) who can tell you more about how the project is developing and how to take part. You can join a codesign workshop, meet some of the people already involved, and hear why they’ve chosen cohousing.
What is cohousing really like?
If you’d like a deeper sense of what cohousing is like in practice, you might want to read our post-occupancy study of Marmalade Lane—‘Insights from Marmalade Lane’—which looks at how residents use the shared spaces and the social value that cohousing continues to generate for them and the wider neighbourhood.
What is cohousing really like?
If you’d like a deeper sense of what cohousing is like in practice, you might want to read our post-occupancy study of Marmalade Lane—‘Insights from Marmalade Lane’—which looks at how residents use the shared spaces and the social value that cohousing continues to generate for them and the wider neighbourhood.
Angel Yard
Marmalade Lane
Still Green
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