The MOD has completed the sale of Waterbeach Barracks in Cambridgeshire to Urban&Civic for an undisclosed price.
Urban&Civic has been the MOD’s development partner at Waterbeach since 2014 and, together with DIO, has achieved outline planning consent and commenced a major redevelopment of the former airfield and barracks of the Royal Engineers.
The development will deliver 6,500 new homes, a town centre with health centre, shops and services and a range of community facilities, including parks, play spaces and sports facilities, over the next 20 years.
David Brewer, DIO’s chief operating officer, said: “We are delighted to announce the sale of the Waterbeach site to Urban&Civic and have enjoyed working together over the last nine years to help navigate the site through the planning system and into early delivery.
“This is not just a disused MOD site, it is a place with a heart, and a rich military and archaeological history, and strong links with the existing community of Waterbeach. We are proud that this will be remembered and commemorated through the innovative and thoughtful development to come and that those links with the existing community will be reinvigorated.”
Nigel Hugill, Urban&Civic chief executive, added: “The transformation of Waterbeach Barracks was grounded in belief and leadership. A major government department actively releasing brownfield land for new homes to maintain local momentum that both anticipates and facilitates world-beating economic growth in North Cambridge. In the process, realising significant funds for new investment. Properly joined up thinking.
“Urban&Civic will continue to nurture Waterbeach lovingly as a unique waterside community within enhanced and protected natural habitats, quite unlike any other place in Cambridgeshire. We look forward to continuing to build on the collective vision.”
