South Cambridgeshire District Council has submitted a planning application for a new Town Hub in Northstowe, Cambridgeshire, which will include dedicated space for healthcare services as the new town expands.
The proposed four-storey building, designed by engineering consultant AtkinsRéalis, will provide more than 4,000 sqm of flexible space between Northstowe's future High Street and Town Plaza.
The development is intended to bring healthcare, library and community facilities together within the town centre.
More than 1,290 sqm of the building will be provided for GP services and other healthcare uses, with a separate high street-facing unit intended to accommodate a pharmacy or healthcare provider as the town grows.
Northstowe is planned to grow to a population of up to 28,000 people, with around 10,000 new homes.
The Town Hub, which will be known as Wayfinder, will also include a modern library, community hall, meeting rooms and workspaces, a café and social spaces.
A full-height atrium and feature staircase will form a central internal space, while a first-floor garden terrace and roof terrace will provide additional outdoor areas.
The building will have step-free access throughout, accessible entrances and a Changing Places facility.
AtkinsRéalis was appointed to the project through the Professional Services in Construction framework managed by Pagabo.
Its Cambridge-based team has led the design, drawing on architecture, structural and civil engineering, building services, sustainability, project management and cost management expertise.
The design has been developed with input from local residents and stakeholders, including Homes England, Cambridgeshire County Council's Libraries Service, the NHS Integrated Care Board and Greater Cambridge Shared Planning.
The council said the Town Hub would provide a central location for residents to access healthcare, learning and community services as Northstowe develops.
The planning application is now subject to public consultation.
Comments can be submitted under the comment section of the planning document until 30 September 2026.
If planning permission is granted, the council said it will provide further information on when construction is expected to begin and when the building is expected to open.
Contractor procurement is expected to progress alongside the planning process, according to AtkinsRéalis.
