Northstowe Learning Community, part of Meridian Trust, is proud to announce that it has been named ‘Education Project of the Year’ at the East of England Property Awards.
The award, presented by UK Property Forum, recognises the expertise and collaborative work between Northstowe Learning Community, Cambridgeshire County Council, Meridian Trust, architects Frank Shaw, construction partner Kier and the master developer for phases two and three of Northstowe, Homes England.
The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday 25th June 2025 at Homerton College in Cambridge, bringing together leading figures from across the property and development sectors. The Education Project of the Year category was highly competitive, with several outstanding projects shortlisted. Following a rigorous judging process, which included a site visit and in-depth assessment, the panel selected Northstowe Learning Community as the winner.
Accepting the award on behalf of the partnership included Claire Mills, Principal of Northstowe Learning Community, Steven Ponting, Operations Manager from Kier Construction, Sophia Dudding, Planning and Enabling Manager (Northstowe), Homes England and Steve Cuttill from architects Frank Shaw.
Claire Mills said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this recognition. This award represents the dedication, vision, and collaboration shared between Meridian Trust, Kier, and Homes England.
“At Northstowe Learning Community and across Meridian Trust, we are committed to providing high-quality learning environments for all our students. Our campus was designed not only to support academic achievement but also to inspire creativity, inclusivity and environmental awareness, values that are embedded in our ethos.”
Designed by architects Frank Shaw, Northstowe Learning Community is pioneering a new model for education in emerging communities. It is currently the only all-through education campus in Cambridgeshire, offering seamless learning from nursery to sixth form, including a dedicated special school, and will eventually accommodate over 2,300 students.
The campus stands out for its bold commitment to sustainability and innovation. The secondary school and sixth form building derive 74% of their energy from low- or zero-carbon technologies, including extensive solar panels and air source heat pumps. Outdoor classrooms, green spaces, and a comprehensive walking and cycling network encourage environmental learning and promote healthy, active travel.
The landscaping has also been thoughtfully developed to enhance biodiversity, incorporating native planting, ecological corridors, and unique features such as wildflower meadows, a hibernaculum, bog gardens, and integrated bird and bat boxes. Special measures such as hedgehog-friendly fencing highlight the team’s attention to ecological detail.
Internally, the campus offers digitally connected classrooms, specialist facilities for science, design, the arts, and sports, as well as sensory-friendly spaces to support wellbeing and accessibility. Its flexible outdoor learning areas offer immersive, nature-connected education for all age groups.
Matthew Brown, Head of Large Sites, Northstowe at Homes England, commented: “Education is the foundation of strong, sustainable communities, and this award recognises just how powerful early investment in learning infrastructure can be. Northstowe Learning Community has brought high-quality, inclusive education to the heart of the town from the outset, and we’re proud to have worked in partnership to deliver a campus that will serve generations to come. Timely delivery of key facilities like this enables Homes England as master developer to accelerate delivery of the town.”
Steve Cuttill from architects Frank Shaw said: “Good buildings start with visionary clients and are realised by committed, creative and enthusiastic teams – this project had all of that. The result is a learning campus that we are sure will inspire generations of children and young adults to come. We are delighted that the campus has received this recognition and that we were part of that team.”
For more information about Northstowe Learning Community, please visit the website: https://northstowe.education/
