Question 1

What is Forest City 1 (FC1)?

Accepted Answer

Forest City 1—also called Forest City One and abbreviated FC1—is a proposed privately led new city on up to 45,000 acres of rural land east of Cambridge, between Newmarket and Haverhill. Developers plan roughly 400,000 homes for about 1 million people, with 12,000 acres of new woodland. They describe it as Britain's first new city in over 50 years. The scheme uses a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Community Land Trust (CLT) model. The public record shows it remains at a proposal and lobbying stage.

Question 2

Where exactly would Forest City 1 be built?

Accepted Answer

The proposal targets land east of Cambridge, spanning Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, roughly between Newmarket and Haverhill. The footprint would be similar in size to Bristol. Villages at risk include Cowlinge, Great Thurlow, and Withersfield. No official boundary has been released by the developers, so the exact location is still indicative. See our map for scale comparisons.

Question 3

How big would Forest City 1 be?

Accepted Answer

The developers claim ~45,000 acres (~182 km²), ~400,000 homes, and ~1 million residents. That is over four times the size of Cambridge, larger than Bristol, and roughly 10% of Greater London. About 12,000 acres would be set aside for new woodland.

Question 4

Is Forest City 1 approved?

Accepted Answer

No. Parliament has stated that the government has 'no current plans to establish a development corporation' for this proposal. Officials have received proposals and will meet promoters, but 'being reviewed' is not 'approved'. See our timeline for dated milestones.

Question 5

How would Forest City get water?

Accepted Answer

The developers claim they can unlock permission to build major new water infrastructure, noting the country has not built a reservoir in 30 years. However, East Anglia is classified as an area of serious water stress by the Environment Agency. Cambridge Water's plan shows large reductions in abstraction from chalk aquifers (more than half of current water availability over time) plus growing demand. A concrete pathway for supplying 1 million people has not been evidenced. See our water supply claim page and water explainer.

Question 6

What is a development corporation and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

A development corporation is a body with planning and compulsory purchase powers, often used for large projects. Forest City 1 would require parliamentary legislation to create one. Parliament has stated there are 'no current plans' to do so. The developer describes this as the 'proven model' for delivery. Our development corporation claim page explains the gap between what is claimed and what is evidenced.

Question 7

What about the 60% below market housing claim?

Accepted Answer

The developers claim homes would be 60% below market rates, with examples like four-bedroom houses for £350,000, using the CLT and SEZ model. Open questions remain: resale restrictions, mortgageability at scale, cross-subsidy transparency, and whether the economics work under downturn conditions. We catalogue the claim and evidence—we do not attempt to prove or disprove the economics. See our 60% below market claim page.

Question 8

What about council tax and governance?

Accepted Answer

The developer narrative includes the idea that residents would not face typical local taxation burdens. Council tax is paid to local councils for local services and 'generally needs to be paid' for domestic properties under current law. Any promise of 'no council tax' would imply either exemptions or bespoke legislation. The developer says legislation would be required for its governance model.

Question 9

Don't we need 4 million homes?

Accepted Answer

A widely cited report claimed Britain needs 4.3 million homes. Housing economist Ian Mulheirn found England had a surplus of around 1.12 million dwellings in 2018; the 2021 census showed 1.5 million more dwellings than households. Affordability is driven more by credit, speculation, and tax than by simple supply.

Question 10

Isn't new woodland good for biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Woodland creation can deliver benefits, but outcomes depend on woodland type, management, and landscape position. The proposed 12,000 acres would replace grade 2 farmland and could displace hedgerows and existing habitats. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is now mandatory for most developments in England—at least 10% gain. Ecologists argue that construction carbon would outweigh the benefits of new planting in the short term.

Question 11

Can I object or get involved?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When a formal application is submitted, there will be a consultation period. Sign our petition and join our updates list so we can coordinate and keep you informed. Share information with neighbours and participate in local consultations when they open.

Question 12

Who is behind Stop Forest City?

Accepted Answer

Stop Forest City is a local campaign formed by residents and community members concerned about the proposal. We are volunteers providing independent information and organising opposition. See our About page.

Question 13

How can I help?

Accepted Answer

Sign the petition, get updates, share information with neighbours, and engage with the planning process when it opens. Every voice matters.