Work starts on The Glade at Alconbury Weald

Work has started on The Glade, Alconbury Weald’s first local centre, which will provide a Co-op, and other local shops, nursery and office space, as well as a public square and open space for events, stalls and markets.

The Glade is the first “local centre” at Alconbury Weald and will add to the existing community hub on the development’s main Boulevard: alongside The Unit Fitness gym, Bohemia’s café and bistro, the library, cricket pitch and Pavilion community centre.

The Co-op is due to open in summer 2023 and will create a modern, sustainable food store with features set to include self-checkouts, an extensive food-to-go section with hot food, an in-store bakery and customer toilets with baby changing facilities. The Co-op building itself has been designed with sustainability features such as PV solar panels to the roof to provide electricity to the building.

A Central England Co-op spokesperson said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with Urban&Civic at The Glade.

“We’re a co-operative retailer which prides itself on being right at the heart of our communities, providing vital food and essentials as well as great membership benefits. We also have a passionate member and community team who work with local schools and groups to deliver educational sessions on subjects such as healthy choices and Fairtrade.

“We also offer members the opportunity to access grants from our Community Dividend Fund which helps make a real difference, with over £16,000 handed to good causes in Cambridgeshire over the past 12 months.”

The Glade will complement the community store – Swynford Stores – which sits at the heart of the play areas and parks around Alconbury Weald’s first Primary School, Ermine Street Church Academy.

Rachel Arnold, Communities and Partnerships from Urban&Civic said: “This is an important milestone for Alconbury Weald and will provide the heart of the first phase of the development, bringing forward important services and amenities the growing community needs, and linking walking and cycling routes with the existing routes and trails.

“Alongside the co-op and nursery, we’re particularly excited about the public square and green spaces in The Glade and will continue to work with partners and residents to bring forward the great ideas received during the consultations around a parcel collection point, pop-up markets, community events and seasonal activities”