Approval of £400million sewage works in Cambridge green belt met with concerns of 'significant local and regional impacts'
The examining authority had recommended that consent should be withheld
Campaigners have shared their disappointment at the government’s decision to approve plans to build a new Cambridge sewage works in the green belt.
It was announced yesterday that the development could go ahead, despite the examining authority recommending that consent should be withheld.
The examiners argued that they did not think the case for the principle of the development had been “adequately justified”.
However, Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for environment, food and rural affairs, disagreed on this issue and said the relocation of the sewage works would “unlock a long-held ambition to redevelop North East Cambridge and enable the delivery of thousands of new homes and new jobs.”
The new Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant will be built on land to the north of the A14 between Horningsea and Fen Ditton, known as Honey Hill.
The plant will replace the existing sewage works in the north east of the city.
Plans are being worked on to redevelop the land the existing facility sits on as part of the wider North East Cambridge development.
Overall the North East Cambridge development could see around 8,000 new homes and new commercial buildings built on the edge of the city.
The sewage world site itself is proposed to be part of the Hartree development where developers have been working on plans to build over 5,000 homes.
The government has committed £277million to the project to build the new sewage works, with the overall cost estimated to be around £400million.
The Save Honey Hill group has spent five years fighting the plans, and said many of its concerns had been reflected in the examining authority’s report.
A spokesperson for the group said: “We are disappointed that the Secretary of State has approved the relocation of the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant, despite the planning inspectors’ clear recommendation to refuse the application.
“This decision follows five years of work by local residents, experts, and community groups, during which we presented a detailed and credible case against the proposals.
“The planning inspectorate’s report reflected many of the concerns we raised.
“This is a major development on prime agricultural land within the Cambridge Green Belt, with significant local and regional impacts.
“It involves the use of £277 million of public housing infrastructure funding to support a project that even Anglian Water has acknowledged is not operationally necessary.
“The current plant is fully functional and has capacity to support Cambridge’s future growth.”
The group added that they will take time to “carefully consider the decision letter and its reasoning” and will be considering “all options available, including the possibility of judicial review”.
The spokesperson said: “This development would affect not only our villages, but also communities in North Cambridge and users of the A14, who face years of disruption.
“If the project proceeds, Save Honey Hill will continue to monitor it closely, working to ensure that environmental and community impacts are minimised, and that Anglian Water complies with all conditions set by the Secretary of State and local authorities.”
Councillor Graham Cone (Conservative), who represents Fen Ditton and Fulbourn at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said he was also “disappointed” at the Secretary of State’s decision.
He said: “The main reason given for overturning the recommendation is due to housing.
“I have been saying for years that including the housing numbers on the existing waste water treatment plant site within the local plan is the same as building houses in the green belt due to the relocation. I am sorry to say I have been proven right on this issue.”
Cllr Cone added that the decision was a “huge blow”, but said he will continue to work with residents to try and “get the best deal going forward”.
The Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Green Party has also said it is “disappointed” the project has been approved.
However, others have welcomed the news and said the relocation of the sewage works will enable the creation of an “exemplar, sustainable new quarter” of Cambridge.
Fiona Bryant, director of major regeneration programmes at Cambridge City Council, said: “We have a housing affordability crisis in Cambridge and as a council we are committed to building more new homes, including council homes, to address this.
“Working with Anglian Water our proposals for Hartree in the heart of the new North East Cambridge district, would support our vision for a Cambridge where everyone has a warm, safe, and affordable home, alongside new green spaces, shops, workplaces, and education, community and leisure facilities, which will serve the north east of the city and surrounding areas.”
David Barnetson, programme director for Anglian Water, said the decision to approve the plans was a “significant milestone” in facilitating the growth the government had said it wants to see in Greater Cambridge.
He said: “We look forward to progressing the project with our partners, and in line with the requirements set out by the DCO determination.
“We are committed to continue engaging with key stakeholders and surrounding community during the next phases of work, prior to construction.”
Pauline Schaffer, director of infrastructure funding at Homes England, echoed this and said: “The approval of the DCO for this nationally significant scheme is a key milestone in supporting the development of life sciences and new homes in North East Cambridge.
“Funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund was approved to help regenerate the last large brownfield site within the area in order to unlock over 8,000 much needed new homes and is a prime example of how we are working with partners like Cambridge City Council and Anglian Water to create thriving places that people can be proud of.”
Councillor Katie Porrer, the Liberal Democrat transport and infrastructure spokesperson at the city council, said her group welcomed the decision as it “brings closer” some of the new homes the “area badly needs”.
She said her group understood those who have been campaigning against the project will be disappointed, however, she said it was “clearly preferable” for new homes and jobs to be created in a “sustainable way on the edge of the existing urban area”.
Cllr Porrer said: “We now need the government to take bolder and faster action to remove other obstacles to this growth, such as through investment in the necessary water supplies of the future, ensuring necessary community infrastructure is built first and that biodiversity is not only restored but expanded.
“So while this is good news, we still need more positive supportive action from the government before we can see the full way forward.”