A decision on plans to build a new sewage works on the edge of Cambridge has been delayed. The plan was to announce a decision on the future of the Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant on 12th October. But the Secretary of State Steve Reed has now extended the deadline until January 12, 2025. He said the decision to extend the deadline had been taken to allow more time for officials to “conduct further consultation on emerging planning policy and analysis of responses to the consultation”.
Anglian Water applied for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to ask for permission to build the new sewage works on land north of the A14 between Horningsea and Fen Ditton, known as Honey Hill.
The plant would replace the existing sewage works in the north east of the city. This would free that site to become part of the new North East Cambridge development, which is proposed to include around 8,000 new homes and new commercial buildings.
The government has committed £277million to the project to build the new sewage works, with the overall cost estimated to be around £400million.
Local protests
But the plans for the new sewage works have been met with opposition from the local Save Honey Hill campaign group. During the six month examination process objectors questioned why green belt land should be “sacrificed” in order to build the new sewage works.
They point out that in 2010 Anglia Water spent £20 m to upgrade the existing sewage plant, to future proof it to 2050. They argue that it will swamp the nearby village of Horningsea, and block the National Trust’s plans for the Wicken Fen rewilding project.
Recommendation withheld
The planning inspectorate has issued a recommendation on whether the project should go ahead, but this recommendation has not been made public, and will not be published until the Secretary of State has made a decision.
In a statement Mr Reed said: “The deadline for the decision is to be extended to January 12, 2025 to allow additional time for Defra officials to conduct further consultation on emerging planning policy and analysis of responses to the consultation. “The decision to set a new deadline is without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant development consent.”
