The Church Commissioners for England has submitted an outline planning application for the final phase of the sustainable northern expansion of Ely in East Cambridgeshire.
The plans propose an inclusive community of up to 1,607 homes, supported by flexible employment uses and substantial green open space.
Joyce Lo, assistant asset manager at the Church Commissioners for England, said: “Highflyer Farm North represents the final piece in delivering a sustainable, well-connected northern expansion of Ely, ensuring residents can continue to live and work in their local area. Rather than housing in isolation, the neighbourhood will offer jobs, amenities and plentiful green space, while connecting seamlessly to the wider new community’s planned schools and local centres.”
The masterplan for the 85-hectare Highflyer Farm North site completes the ELY1 allocation in the East Cambridgeshire Local Plan, adopted in 2015, and is designed to fully integrate with Ely’s wider expansion.
A mix of homes will be provided to meet local needs, including affordable homes and self-build plots. The development will also support the local economy through an extension to Chettisham Business Park to the north, creating new employment opportunities alongside housing.
Green space accounts for nearly 45% of the masterplan’s total area. This includes a significant extension to Ely Country Park, alongside new play areas, playing fields, allotments and green corridors for walking and cycling.
A network of walking and cycling routes will connect the new neighbourhood to the wider city, making it easy for residents to access jobs, schools and local amenities without relying on car use.
The Church Commissioners has already successfully secured outline planning permission for up to 800 homes, a local centre, a school and supporting infrastructure at Highflyer Farm, directly south of the site, with 200 homes now built and occupied.
The masterplan forms part of the Church Commissioners for England’s wider strategic land portfolio, which has capacity to bring forward approximately 30,000 homes across the country, from small-scale sites to thousand-home communities.
