Topping out has taken place at Northstowe’s Unity Centre.
Representatives from South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) and its construction partner Kier gathered for the occasion at the building which will be the central community space for the Northstowe development, a scheme that will eventually deliver around 10,000 homes.
The centre will include a multi-purpose main hall, a foyer which could host a café, plus a base for staff and the town council office. It will also have meeting rooms, a shared co-working space, and a flexible activity area designed for arts and crafts and workshops.
Following an agreement between South Cambridgeshire District Council and accept Northstowe Town Council, the building, due for completion in Spring 2026, will be transferred to the town council to operate.
Cllr Henry Batchelor, lead cabinet member for communities for SCDC, said: “Reaching this milestone within the project is a significant achievement and it’s great to see the building taking shape.
“The Unity Centre will serve as a vibrant and spacious hub offering a wide range of community activities, events, and services. So far in Northstowe, we’ve provided Western Park Sports Pavilion and The Cabin – the temporary community centre.
“Both have proved to be well-used, popular facilities. I’m delighted that the District Council has contributed £6.5 million towards this project to ensure Northstowe residents have access to a sustainable and thriving community centre.
“We will continue to work with Northstowe Town Council to agree final terms of lease, and I look forward to seeing the finished facility early next year.”
Tom Martin, regional director for Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, said: “Northstowe Unity Centre is an exciting project that we are proud to be a part of. This high-quality building is progressing well and reaching this milestone is a great achievement for all involved.
“Once completed, the Unity Centre will provide a modern and welcoming space that will benefit the community of Northstowe for decades to come.
“It has been designed with sustainability at its core, and the cross-laminated timber superstructure makes this building even more special.
“As well as being a high quality, reliable and a more sustainable material, another benefit for choosing cross-laminated timber was to enable off-site prefabrication, allowing us to execute a faster, more efficient construction process.”
Image above: The centre.
Image below (l-r): Tom Martin regional director for Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, Cllr Jason Benedicic Mayor of Northstowe Town Council, Cllr Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cllr Henry Batchelor, lead cabinet member for communities.
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