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About £80m already spent to move Cambridge sewage works About £80m already spent to move Cambridge sewage works
(about 4 hours later)
Anglian Water said the decision to scrap funding for a new sewage treatment plant in Cambridge was "disappointing"Anglian Water said the decision to scrap funding for a new sewage treatment plant in Cambridge was "disappointing"
About £80m was spent on plans to move sewage works in a city before the idea was scrapped.About £80m was spent on plans to move sewage works in a city before the idea was scrapped.
Relocating Anglian Water’s Cambridge treatment works was designed to free up land for around 8,600 homes.Relocating Anglian Water’s Cambridge treatment works was designed to free up land for around 8,600 homes.
Cameron Holloway, Labour leader of Cambridge City Council, said the money was spent on developing the proposals, including getting planning permission, which the environment secretary granted in April.Cameron Holloway, Labour leader of Cambridge City Council, said the money was spent on developing the proposals, including getting planning permission, which the environment secretary granted in April.
But just months later, the Ministry of Housing ruled the scheme "unaffordable".But just months later, the Ministry of Housing ruled the scheme "unaffordable".
Holloway said out of the £80m spent, the council used £13m of its own money on the project, and the rest came from partners Anglian Water, the government and developers Landsec and TOWN.Holloway said out of the £80m spent, the council used £13m of its own money on the project, and the rest came from partners Anglian Water, the government and developers Landsec and TOWN.
Cambridge City Council hoped to create a new district made up of 8,600 new homes to the north-east of the city. Of those, 5,600 would have been part of a development known as “Hartree”, which would also have included offices, workplaces and schools.Cambridge City Council hoped to create a new district made up of 8,600 new homes to the north-east of the city. Of those, 5,600 would have been part of a development known as “Hartree”, which would also have included offices, workplaces and schools.
The council committed to moving a depot used by its staff out of the area on the understanding that it would be built.The council committed to moving a depot used by its staff out of the area on the understanding that it would be built.
Holloway said he had been "excited about the project", which was in the works for around seven years and was "disappointed" it was cancelled.Holloway said he had been "excited about the project", which was in the works for around seven years and was "disappointed" it was cancelled.
"However, I understand that the government's got a lot of pressures on their spending, and the expenditure required had gone up significantly," he said."However, I understand that the government's got a lot of pressures on their spending, and the expenditure required had gone up significantly," he said.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had committed £227m towards the plans, but said "cost projection increases have made the relocation proposals unaffordable".The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had committed £227m towards the plans, but said "cost projection increases have made the relocation proposals unaffordable".
Cambridge City Council leader Cameron Holloway said the authority sunk around £80m into the plans Cambridge City Council leader Cameron Holloway said around £80m was sunk into the plans
The plans would have seen a new sewage works built on Honey Hill, near the village of Horningsea, just outside Cambridge.The plans would have seen a new sewage works built on Honey Hill, near the village of Horningsea, just outside Cambridge.
According to a 2023 consultation leaflet, it would have been a 22-hectare (53-acre) “integrated wastewater and sludge treatment plant”.According to a 2023 consultation leaflet, it would have been a 22-hectare (53-acre) “integrated wastewater and sludge treatment plant”.
The tallest structure would have been a chimney stack up to 24 metres high, with two anaerobic digesters no bigger than 20 metres. Earthworks and trees would have encircled the plant.The tallest structure would have been a chimney stack up to 24 metres high, with two anaerobic digesters no bigger than 20 metres. Earthworks and trees would have encircled the plant.
Anglian Water said the decision to pull funding was "disappointing" and that its teams were "reviewing all options to increase capacity to support growth at our existing treatment works in Cambridge".Anglian Water said the decision to pull funding was "disappointing" and that its teams were "reviewing all options to increase capacity to support growth at our existing treatment works in Cambridge".
However, the news was welcomed by Catherine Morris, who helped lead the Save Honey Hill campaign and said the group was "absolutely thrilled" after years of fighting the new development.However, the news was welcomed by Catherine Morris, who helped lead the Save Honey Hill campaign and said the group was "absolutely thrilled" after years of fighting the new development.
In a statement, MHCLG said: "It is vital that taxpayers' money is used responsibly, and cost projection increases have made the relocation proposal unaffordable, with the additional £400m now required beyond the budget available.In a statement, MHCLG said: "It is vital that taxpayers' money is used responsibly, and cost projection increases have made the relocation proposal unaffordable, with the additional £400m now required beyond the budget available.
"We are committed to ensuring Cambridge has the housing and water infrastructure it needs to reach its full growth potential as we deliver on our Plan for Change.""We are committed to ensuring Cambridge has the housing and water infrastructure it needs to reach its full growth potential as we deliver on our Plan for Change."
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