North East Cambridge (NEC), previously known as Cambridge Northern Fringe East, comprises 182 hectares of brownfield land, located just a 15-minute cycle ride from the city centre.
The NEC area includes several key sites:
- Hartree (Core Site) – the current Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant and adjoining City-owned land
- Cambridge North Station
- Brookgate (Chesterton Sidings)
- St John’s Innovation Park
- Cambridge Science Park
The Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service preparing an Area Action Plan for the North East Cambridge (NEC) area to guide all development over the next 20 years.
Cambridge North Station opened in May 2017. The project included:
- a 450-space car park
- a 1,000-space cycle park
- new road access to the station
- improved links to the Guided Busway
- pedestrian and cycle connections to nearby areas.
is the central site within the North East Cambridge (NEC) development area. Its delivery is dependent on the relocation of the existing Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant (CWWTP), which is subject to a Development Consent Order (DCO).
Anglian Water’s DCO for the relocation of the CWWTP was granted by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 8 April 2025.
With the DCO now approved, the Hartree site is planned to deliver:
- approximately 5,600 homes
- shops, workplaces, schools, and community facilities
- leisure spaces and public open areas
- all delivered across 48 hectares of brownfield land.
The site map [PDF, 1.5MB] shows the locations of development proposals across North East Cambridge, colour-coded by their stage in the planning process.
How to view the planning applications
The easiest way to see the plans is to go online and search for the planning applications using the reference numbers below:
An application for outline planning permission is currently being prepared. The application will comprise:
- a new District Centre and two Local Centres, featuring an adaptable and resilient new high street
- approximately 5,600 homes, comprising a mix of Private Market Sale, Build to Rent, and Affordable (Social and Intermediate) tenures
- approximately 95,000 sqm of office and laboratory space, with a mix of floorplate sizes and affordability levels to suit a range of occupier needs, from large corporate headquarters to SMEs and start-up incubators
- approximately 10,000 sqm of retail space, including convenience and comparison retail, cafés and restaurants, indoor recreation, fitness and leisure facilities, and financial and professional services
- two primary schools
- approximately 7,000 sqm of community space, comprising flexible community areas, a health hub, library, visual arts hub, and indoor sports hall
- building heights generally up to 10 storeys, with potential for taller buildings subject to townscape impact assessment
- approximately 19.43 hectares of Public Open Space, including provision for children’s and teenagers’ play areas and informal open space
- avariety of open space typologies, including informal open space, children’s and teenagers’ play space, food-growing areas, and formal indoor and outdoor open spaces, distributed across strategic, local, and neighbourhood levels
- neighbourhood spaces will consist of public squares, play streets, and smaller local parks.
Application pending.
Outline Planning Permission has been granted for the development of three new residential blocks, providing up to 425 residential units. The proposals also include flexible Class E and Class F uses on the ground floor, associated car and cycle parking, and infrastructure works.
Full Planning Permission has been granted for the construction of three commercial buildings within Use Classes E(g)(i) (offices) and E(g)(ii) (research and development).
The scheme also includes flexible Class E and Class F uses on the ground floor, the construction of a multi-storey car and cycle park, basements for parking and building services, associated car and cycle parking, landscaping, infrastructure works, and the demolition of existing structures.
Planning permission was granted at appeal on 23 April 2024.
Application reference: 22/02771/OUT
Full planning permission was granted for research and development accommodation - including office space, laboratory facilities, a café, car parking, cycle parking spaces, and landscaping.
Approved: July 2024.
Application reference: 23/00835/FUL
A full planning application for the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of new buildings for Use Class E(g)(i) (offices) and E(g)(ii) (research and development), with Class E(a) (retail) and E(b) (sale of food and drink) uses on the ground floor was submitted in January 2025.
Application reference: 25/00016/FUL – Pending decision
Full planning permission was granted for the change of use and refurbishment of an existing car showroom, including a new-build two-storey extension to create a new Operational Hub.
The scheme also includes the reconfiguration and refurbishment of the existing MOT garage to provide upgraded office and storage space, car and van parking, cycle parking, landscaping, and associated infrastructure.
Approved: June 2024
Application reference: 23/01878/FUL
Full planning permission was granted for the construction of a 5-storey building and a 6-storey building for commercial/business purposes, the erection of a transport hub, gymnasium, surface parking, landscaping, and associated infrastructure, including the demolition of the existing building (St John’s House) and associated structures.
Approved: October 2021
Application reference: 20/03523/FUL
Full planning permission was granted for the demolition of existing buildings and substructures, and the erection of a Research and Development building (Use Class E). This includes basement levels for car and cycle parking, building services, and associated landscaping, cycle parking, infrastructure works, and plant.
Approved: February 2024.
Application references: 23/01487/FUL and 23/01509/FUL
Full planning permission was granted for the 2-story building totalling 5120sqm gross internal floorspace for a mix of class B1 (business) and class B2 (general industrial) and class B8 (storage and distribution) uses.
Approved: July 2018
Application reference: S/1136/18/FL
Full planning permission was granted for a 2-storey 2,145.2 sqm (GIA) extension to the north-west of the existing building to provide a new filling and packaging hall (B2 and B8 uses)
Application reference: 25/00113/FUL
Full planning permission has been summitted for the demolition of 6 existing buildings and
redevelopment with of the site to include 4 new buildings with Use Class E(g) floorspace (office) (E(g)(i)),research and development (E(g)(ii)) along with access, landscaping and supporting infrastructure and retention of Unit 216.
Application reference: 24/04575/FUL – Pending decision
Full Planning permission for the construction of Cambridge North Rail Station along with associated infrastructure was approved August 2015.
Application references: S/1236/15/FL and 15/0994/FUL
If you don’t have internet access, you can also view the plans in person at our office between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Community forum
View the North East community forum for more information.