Nene Valley Villages
A Modern Mosaic
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We envisage Nene Valley Villages growing as a series of distinct, yet interconnected villages, nestled within nature, linked with Peterborough and offering homes for all. This will create a ‘modern mosaic’ of communities, with high-quality homes, jobs, and opportunities to grow and thrive.
The site lies at the heart of the Nene Valley, where the settlement pattern reflects that of existing villages of a similar scale in the locality, such as Castor and Ailsworth, set within a nature-rich landscape.
Homes England is the sole landowner of c.350 hectares(ha) of land to the north and west of Castor and Ailsworth. In response to the draft Peterborough Local Plan allocation, our proposals for Nene Valley Villages look to develop 220ha of this land to deliver a new settlement for approximately 3,000 homes and a new Country Park.
Our ambition for the Villages is to re-imagine the traditional English village for the 21st century, delivering new homes, community facilities, social infrastructure, jobs and open spaces that support the growth of Peterborough now and in the future. We plan to deliver our proposals in partnership with the local community and our delivery partners.
Draft Ambition Statement
We have produced a Draft Ambition Statement, which you can download here to learn more about our aspirations, considerations and assessment work, which have informed our emerging proposals.
Our Ambitions
Our Draft Ambition Statement demonstrates how collectively the Villages can work in combination and alongside the existing villages of Castor & Ailsworth. It also sets out on way in which the site could come forward, underpinned by the following foundation pillars which respond positively to the opportunities and constraints of the site.
Living alongside nature and heritage:
Where landscape and heritage is embraced and enhanced, creating opportunities for healthy lifestyles and ensuring climate resilience for the future.
A cohesive community:
Ensuring the community can thrive, with a choice of high-quality homes, facilities and jobs that are diverse and flexible to support the lifestyles, aspirations and needs of all generations delivering positive social value outcomes for both the existing and new communities.
Inclusive growth:
A range of employment opportunities alongside new homes will bring social and economic value to the community.
A connected Peterborough:
Where the Villages, their facilities and the employment opportunities, are sustainably connected with Peterborough and the wider area, it will benefit existing and future communities alike.
Key Aspirations
We have established some key aspirations to ensure the delivery of our four core ambitions: living alongside nature and heritage, establishing a cohesive community, supporting inclusive growth and connecting with Peterborough.
Delivery of approximately 3,000 high-quality, multi-tenure homes.
Provision of up to 7.5 hectares of flexible and adaptable employment space.
Provision of community amenities, such as primary and secondary schools, health and leisure facilities.
Promotion of biodiversity enhancements to support local wildlife.
Encouraging healthy lifestyles by prioritising walking and cycling opportunities.
Weaving in local heritage features.
Linking the existing and the new, with new foot, cycle and wheeling connections across the A47, connecting to Castor and Ailsworth.
Establishing a wide network of natural and recreation spaces, such as parks and gardens, allotments, woodlands and playing fields.
Aspiration to provide jobs across a range of sectors within close proximity for new and existing residents.
Establishing a network of green links and natural spaces, alongside recreation and productive landscape, across at least 50% of the total site area.
Peterborough Draft Local Plan
The Nene Valley Villages site has been identified as proposed new settlement under ‘Policy LP53: Urban Extensions and New Settlements’ within the Draft Peterborough Local Plan (April 2025).
Policy LP53 within the Council’s Local Plan sets out the sites opportunity to deliver 3,000 new homes, with 1,800 of those homes being delivered within the 2024 to 2044 Plan period, plus a further 1,200 dwellings beyond 2044. ‘Policy LP55: Land North Castor and Ailsworth’ sets out the specific requirements for the site.
Policy LP45 within the Draft Local Plan, also calls for the provision of a Country Park to the west of the New Settlement and to the south of the A47. Further terms are set out within Policy LP55, stating that plans for the country park must include arrangements for its long-term management and maintenance, as well as the development of an area of habitat with the express purpose of reducing new negative impacts on designated sites and habitats of principal importance.
We have submitted our representations to Peterborough City Council as part of the Draft Local Plan consultation which set out our support for the Local Plan and the allocation of Land North of Castor & Ailsworth. You can read our representations here.
We are in the very early stages of the Local Plan process; and our priority is to work with Peterborough City Council, the local community and stakeholders as the Local Plan progresses. We will provide further information on future engagement with the local community in due course.
Further information on the Local Plan process can be found on the council’s website here.