The Government has refused to fund the Anglian Water’s consented waste water treatment plant, leaving plans for thousands of homes undeliverable.
The seven-year battle to relocate the current plant from Cowley Road in north east Cambridge, appeared to be won in April when the development consent order was approved by Government.
It would allow new homes on the site of the current plant, which would become central to a proposed new district in that part of the city and a planning application for homes was due to be submitted to the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service.
However, now the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed that funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund will not be made available due to rising costs of materials and labour and disruption to global supply chains.
The site is regarded as the last major underdeveloped brownfield site in the city and would have enabled around 8,500 new homes across 19 hectares.
Local authorities will now consult key stakeholders including the Cambridge Growth Company about the future opportunities in the North East Cambridge area.
Cllr Cameron Holloway, leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “North East Cambridge has the potential to be a highly sustainable site, providing thousands of much-needed new homes and community infrastructure right by Cambridge North station.
“The council has been working with Anglian Water and Homes England on this project for over seven years, and has made sacrifices to try to get it over the line, including putting £13 million of council additional investment at risk by, for example, moving the depot used by our operational teams. So, we are very sad that this project will not be going ahead.
“We remain absolutely committed to tackling the housing crisis in and around Cambridge, by providing high-quality, affordable homes, and we appreciate the Government’s ongoing support for sustainable and inclusive growth in our area.”
David Barnetson, programme director for Anglian Water, said: “Whilst it’s disappointing that the project won’t now go ahead, we’re committed to supporting Cambridge and the wider area through its rapid projected growth, whilst continuing to protect customers and the environment. Our teams are reviewing all options to increase capacity to support growth at our existing treatment works in Cambridge.
“We will share more information about future plans for Cambridge when we can.”
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