Greater Cambridge Partnership approves Full Business Case for the relocation of Waterbeach Station

The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has today approved the Full Business Case (FBC) to support the delivery of a new railway station in Waterbeach New Town, replacing the existing Waterbeach Station with a modern facility located one and a half miles to the north.

With this approval, the GCP are authorised to finalise and enter into the station delivery agreement with Waterbeach Development Company (WDC) and into a construction contract to build the station. They may also proceed with the steps required to get the authorisation from the Department for Transport to close the Station and deliver a haul road to ensure that the construction traffic does not go through the existing Waterbeach village.

The FBC re-confirms the key benefits for relocating the Station to Waterbeach New Town, which include:

• The provision of greater transport and environmental sustainability for the New Town;
• Making it more convenient for people to access the Station from the New Town and the surrounding area;
• Providing better integration with other travel schemes being promoted in the vicinity, including the Waterbeach Greenway and Waterbeach to Cambridge Busway. This will significantly reduce projected car traffic on the A10; and
• Support greater economic growth in the wider Greater Cambridge area.
  Waterbeach New Town East and the relocated railway station forms part of the 560-hectare site identified by South Cambridgeshire District Council in the Local Plan of 2018 as suitable for up to 11,000 new homes.

The WDC, a JV between Turnstone Estates, Royal London Asset Management and Aquila Investments, received planning permission in December 2024 for 4,500 homes to be built at WNTE.

Urban & Civic secured planning consent in 2019 for 6,500 homes on the western portion of the site, located at the former RAF Waterbeach base, and are providing access for the haul road.

Funding for the relocation of the station has been secured via a repayable grant from Homes England and a contribution from the GCP. The GCP will now be responsible for delivery of the Station. Completion is expected at the end of 2027, with opening depending on Network Rail approval.

Consultation on the closure of the exiting station, which will be run by the Department for Transport, is expected to commence towards the end of the year.

Tim Deacon, Managing Director of Turnstone Estates, one of the partners of WDC, said:

“With the relocation of the Station to Waterbeach New Town East set to be completed in 2027 we can now begin to plan in earnest the delivery of thousands of homes for South Cambridgeshire.

“The Station relocation, alongside the new Greenway and Busway, will ensure that we can deliver a truly sustainable New Town, with active travel and public transport being options for people from the day they move into their new homes.

“I would like to thank the GCP, Homes England and Urban & Civic for their support and we look forward to now moving towards delivery of the first new homes at the New Town East”.

Mark Evans, Head of Property of Royal London Asset Management Property, another of the partners of the Waterbeach Development Company, said:

“The delivery of a new station at Waterbeach New Town is a vital milestone in bringing forward a well-connected and sustainable community. This investment in public infrastructure lays the foundation for a place where active travel and public transport are prioritised from the outset.”

“We’re proud to be playing our part, alongside our partners and stakeholders, in creating a vibrant new neighbourhood for the Greater Cambridge area.”