Cambridge Airport site to be transformed under plans for 10,000-home development

Plans to redevelop the former Cambridge Airport site have moved a significant step forward after Homes England and The Hill Group completed the acquisition of the 700-acre Cambridge East development site, paving the way for one of the UK's largest urban regeneration and housing projects.

image: Homes England. Representatives from Marshall Group, Homes England and The Hill Group

The acquisition will unlock proposals for a new mixed-use district on land formerly occupied by Cambridge Airport, delivering around 10,000 homes, up to 9,000 jobs and a range of supporting infrastructure including schools, community facilities, public transport connections and green spaces. The development is expected to play a major role in supporting Cambridge's continued growth as a global centre for science, technology and innovation.

Cambridge Airport, which has operated on the site since 1938, is due to close by 2030 following Marshall Group's decision to relocate its aerospace and defence operations to other locations in the UK. The closure will free up one of the largest brownfield development opportunities in the country, situated immediately adjacent to the city and within the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and wider innovation ecosystem.

Homes England said the acquisition marks a significant milestone in the delivery of Cambridge East, which has been identified as a key strategic growth location. The Government has increasingly highlighted Cambridge as central to its ambitions for economic growth, particularly in sectors including life sciences, advanced technology and research.

Infrastructure delivery is expected to be a critical element of the scheme. Plans include new transport links designed to integrate the development with the wider city, alongside investment in utilities, education provision, healthcare facilities and public realm improvements.

The Hill Group and Homes England said they would now work with local stakeholders, planning authorities and infrastructure providers to progress detailed masterplanning for the site. Further consultation and planning activity is expected before development can commence.

The acquisition was announced by Homes England as part of the Government's wider plans to support housing delivery and economic growth in the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor.