Government declines support for housing project near Cambridge
Plans for 400,000 homes face local planning hurdles
A housing minister has stated that the Government will not be supporting plans to build 400,000 new homes in East Anglia through a centralised scheme.
Matthew Pennycook addressed the Commons, explaining that the proposal for Forest City 1, located to the east of Cambridge, does not align with the Labour’s new towns programme due to concerns around its deliverability.
“The Government are not exploring creating a development corporation to take forward this speculative proposal,” Pennycook said.
Despite this setback, he noted that developers might still pursue the project via local planning systems without direct backing from Westminster.
These comments followed a speech by Nick Timothy, the Conservative MP for West Suffolk.
Mr Timothy emphasised the importance of the location proposed for Forest City 1, which is currently home to historic villages, thriving communities, and successful business ventures.
“I’ve had emails from people who found their dream home in Suffolk but can’t commit to buying it as long as this development remains on the table,” Timothy said.
Timothy raised concerns over water supply, highlighting the East of England as a water-stressed area which would challenge the proposed city's requirement of around 170 megalitres per day.
The Conservative MP supports housing growth instead in the nearby town of Haverhill, seeing it as more feasible, and called for improved transport links in the region.
Ian Sollom, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, warned that Forest City 1 could overshadow the new towns programme, suggesting it risked becoming “a huge distraction.”
Sollom advocated for the planned expansion of Tempsford, considering it to be a credible way of addressing housing needs.
Labour MP Peter Prinsley, representing Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, sees potential in the project describing it as “quite a bold idea.”
Mr Pennycook reiterated the Government’s recent move to establish the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation to facilitate growth of the existing city.
The developers published a report on their proposals earlier this year, with a foreword by Labour former Cabinet minister Dame Patricia Hewitt.
According to the document, Forest City 1 would feature 400,000 homes, 8,000 acres of commercial space and 12,000 acres of forest.
A 1,600 acre lake at its centre would provide more than 50% of the city’s water needs, as well as facilities for swimming and boating.
It would contribute £53 billion to the UK economy annually, its developers have forecasted.
“At this stage, Albion City Development Corporation (ACDC) is now seeking expression of interest from the Secretary of State (Steve Reed), a sign that this is a project the Government wants to progress,” the report reads.
“As the master planner, ACDC will then raise the funds to option land and carry out a very long list of tasks for the masterplanning process.”