Plans to relocatd Cambridge’s wastewater treatment plant have been approved by the government.

Environment secretary Steve Reed has granted development consent for Anglian Water’s Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant Relocation Project (CWWTPR).

In March 2019, funding was allocated to Anglian Water and Cambridge City Council by the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to submit a Development Consent Order to relocate the existing Cambridge wastewater treatment facility.

The relocation is designed to unlock the North East Cambridge area, including the major undeveloped brownfield site, known as Hartree, for mixed use redevelopment.

This will provide an opportunity to transform the area to create a significant new city district which could deliver more than 8,300 homes, 15,000 new jobs and a wide range of community, cultural and open space facilities.

Since the Development Consent Order (DCO) Examination ended, the government has been reviewing the proposals in light of the revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which was formalised on 12 December last year.

The decision to grant consent for the project follows several years of planning by Anglian Water, which included an extensive programme of consultation with the community and stakeholders and a six-month examination of the DCO application by the Planning Inspectorate’s Examining Authority.

The treatment facility, as well as being operationally net zero carbon, will be energy neutral.  The surrounding area has been designed to create new habitats for wildlife, and increase biodiversity, ensuring the site delivers environmental benefits for the long term.

David Barnetson, programme director for Anglian Water, said granting development consent for the project was “a significant milestone”.

“We look forward to progressing the project with our partners, and in line with the requirements set out by the DCO determination,” he added. “We are committed to continue engaging with key stakeholders and surrounding community during the next phases of work, prior to construction.”

Anglian Water and project partners will now review the secretary of state’s decision in full to ensure all ongoing work is planned and implemented subject to the requirements set out by the DCO Determination.