Heritage Centre Start on Site

Building work on new Northstowe Heritage Centre has started

Work has started on a state-of-the-art modular building which will house the new heritage centre for Northstowe and Longstanton in Cambridgeshire - featuring finds from both major archaeological digs for Northstowe and the new A14 construction.

Northstowe is a new town to the north of Cambridge with an extensive history.  The new sustainably-sourced building will mark a significant step to recognise this history and become part of the new community living at Northstowe.  Around 2,500 residents are already making the new town home.

Northstowe has been a place to live for more than 10,000 years and the new facility will house finds and information from the ancient Roman town that once existed on site to the present day.  It will also have collections from the Anglo-Saxon villages along the A14, evidence of woolly rhinoceros and house a flexible display area plus an outdoor space for activities and groups.

Matthew Brown, interim project director at Homes England, said: “This is an important part of the wider Northstowe development and will display a great range of extensive archaeological finds from the local area. We can’t wait to show them off!”

The ground-breaking featured representatives from Homes England, Cambridgeshire County Council, National Highways,Longstanton & District Heritage Society and Northstowe Town Council.

The centre is scheduled to open in Spring 2023 and is located next to the new regional offices of the site’s developer, Homes England.  It will feature local collections of archaeological findings from across history, but especially those relating to RAF Oakington given most of Northstowe is built on the former air base. The project will benefit residents of Northstowe, Longstanton, Oakington & Westwick and surrounding areas and will be place to visit, meet and hold small events.

The project has been funded by National Highways and Homes England utilising funding streams that would not otherwise have been available to Northstowe. Homes England have provided the land for the new building.

The modular building is designed by Proctor & Matthews Architects and will be constructed from shipping containers using off site sustainable methods of construction, such as innovative prefabrication techniques and passive environmental sustainability measures.

Councillor Firouz Thompson, local member for Longstanton, Northstowe and Over at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “I am delighted that work is underway on this exciting development which will benefit local communities and visitors to our area. I can’t wait to see what the building looks like.”

Laura Hampshire, Senior Project Manager on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme, said: “We’re delighted that the centre construction is underway. During our A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon upgrade we discovered many hidden gems dating back to the Roman Period, Anglo-Saxon era and even as far back as when the dinosaurs roamed the earth – and we can’t wait for this centre to showcase them all.”

Hilary Stroud, Longstanton and District Heritage Society, said: “LDHS was delighted when discussions between the Heritage Society, Homes England and the County Council heritage team were joined by National Highways, who had been tasked with upgrading the A14. The building we see beginning today is the result of that collaboration and their part in this project has been pivotal. Many years ago I commented that the work of the Heritage Society, archaeologists and others could provide Northstowe with access to a heritage stretching back hundreds, if not thousands, of years and this building will enable that to happen.”

Harrison Symonds, Associate at Proctor & Matthews, said: “We are delighted to be moving forward with this exciting project which will provide a heritage and educational facility for the emerging Northstowe and Longstanton communities. There has been a lot of interest in its progress since the plans were announced, so it is very satisfying for construction to begin.”