Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon for Urban&Civic with JTP, David Lock Associates, Bradley Murphy Design and Stantec

Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon for Urban&Civic with JTP, David Lock Associates, Bradley Murphy Design and Stantec

Alconbury Weald: Inspired by its military heritage, the former airfield is being transformed into a unique and inspiring place to live, work, visit and enjoy. The first phase of Alconbury Weald is thriving with the early delivery of landscaping, infrastructure, facilities and amenities supporting a healthy, active and welcoming community. Located in one of the best-connected parts of the country – with plans for a future railway station - Alconbury Weald Enterprise Campus is also playing an important part in the region’s Local Growth Plan.

Describe the social and environmental context of this project, its neighbourhood and people. What is the purpose of the building? How does this building make an impact in its community?

Formerly an RAF and American airbase, the brownfield Cold War airfield includes a legacy of reinforced hangars, control centres, runways and bunkers that informed the masterplanning process. The site is surrounded by small villages who experienced the wartime and Cold War presence and have been actively engaged in the design/delivery process, with Heritage Days and Bunker tours and consultation on the design of future Runway Park and community amenities. “Meanwhile uses” of hangars and older buildings evolved the inherited storage uses into test centres for new technologies to support the government backed Enterprise Zone. While a carefully refurbished WWII listed Watch Office is home to a popular bar/restaurant, which celebrates its history, nestled among the new homes and offices. The Enterprise Zone has three missions: international investment, space for local businesses to grow, and mid tech buildings to support advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors locally. The 20 businesses here to date reflect this and are a core part of the community. The first 1,750 houses are home to first time buyers, expanding families and downsizers. Alconbury Weald provides a range of sizes and tenures for home buyers, buy to rent, affordable homes and rental opportunities. The new community has a dynamic diversity: the majority of residents have a connection to the local area, with others relocating from Cambridge and London. It also reflects the American, East European and South Asian communities who live and work across the wider geography.

What makes this place thrive? How does the community come together? What makes this a great place to live, work, play, visit or learn?

The community-first approach ensures thoughtfully designed public spaces, strong partnerships, flexible responses and a considered calendar of events/activities to foster community spirit. A dedicated community team supports evolving community events/activities: weekly food trucks, monthly events and larger festivals and supporting the creation of groups/activities for all ages. Recent initiatives include the community garden, designed collaboratively and bringing older residents together. The Alconbury Weald Community Association organises established events such as Open Gardens, the Scarecrow Festival and Christmas Market, with ongoing support and promotion from Urban Civic.
To welcome visitors, community events are open to the wider public, with Heritage Open Days and food/drink festivals attracting attendees from further afield. Accessibility has been enhanced through regular bus services, bike hire and new road network: all promoted online, social media and direct to residents through welcome packs and quarterly forums. For businesses, the Enterprise Zone offers bespoke design and delivery, streamlined planning, strong connections, and access to a dynamic workforce. Businesses are supported with travel advice and recruitment during the relocation process.

Please share any data or evidence about the social, economic and environmental performance of this place, or any relevant figures such as footfall, visitors, engagement metrics, residents, etc. 

Once complete, Alconbury Weald will deliver 6,500 homes, 40,000sqft of community facilities, 2.25million sqft of green space and sports provision, 3million sqft of employment space supporting around 8,000 jobs; three primary schools, a SEND and secondary school, and extensive associated infrastructure. The first phase of Alconbury Weald covers around 105 hectares, approximately 18.5% of the whole site (575 hectares). The first phase includes: Homes - over 1,750 homes are occupied, with around 4,000 people living within the first phase. Workspace/jobs - the Enterprise Campus has over 20 businesses employing more than 3,000 people within over 1million sqft of developed commercial space. Inspiring places to learn with the first primary school (opened 2017), a SEND school (opened 2024) and a secondary school under construction (opening 2027). Community facilities including a bar/restaurant in a refurbished WWII Watch Office, a community library, The Glade local centre (with Co-op, interim health care provision, shops and planned nursery), a gym and community centre. Green space/sports provision including a cricket pitch, MUGA, table tennis tables, skate park, landscaped green spaces, parks with bespoke play equipment, community garden, orchards and allotments. Infrastructure - £8million transport improvements in Phase 1 include a range of initiatives to encourage sustainable and active travel with bike hire and servicing for residents and business employees, half hourly bus service, a network of footpaths and cycleways and road/traffic improvements on local roads.