Hindu and Christian groups bid for new town's hub

The first faith and community hub in a new town in Cambridgeshire will either be occupied by a Hindu group or a Christian group which will allocate dedicated space to Muslims, a council said.

People are being invited to offer feedback on two competing bids to build on a 0.25 hectare (0.6 acre) plot in Northstowe.

The successful proposal will be chosen by South Cambridgeshire District Council in June, with the public survey contributing 5% to its overall assessment score for each bid.

There will be three further opportunities for faith or community groups to bid for land in the town, the council said.

The applicant chosen to build their proposed hub on land off Stirling Road will be granted a 999-year leasehold by the council for a peppercorn rent, it said.

The survey runs until 27 April.

Both applicants, Hindu Samaj Northstowe and Northstowe Church Network, were asked to provide community areas accessible to all, including other faith groups.

The latter is made up of Christians from the Church of England, United Reformed Church and Baptist Union. It also has ties with Methodist, Quaker and Catholic groups.