Issue details

Anglian Water are carrying out Phase One consultation on the proposed relocation of Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) between 8 July and an extended deadline of 14 September 2020.  The relocation of the WWTP will enable the regeneration of North East Cambridge, for which an Area Action Plan is being produced by South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council (with the draft AAP currently open to public consultation).

The proposals for the relocation project are at an early stage and in this first phase three site areas have been identified for the possible relocation.  Two of the site areas are to the west of Milton, with one north of Butt Lane and one to the south.  The other possible site area is located to the south of Horningsea and north of the A14.  In addition a tunnel/pipeline will be required to take waste water to the new site for treatment and to take treated waste water back to the River Cam, and tunnel corridor options for each site area are provided.  Anglian Water are asking for feedback on the three possible site area options and the potential tunnel corridor options.  Further information can be found here: https://cwwtpr.com/have-your-say/

Anglian Water are proposing two further stages of consultation, planned for Spring 2021 and Winter 2021.  As this is a nationally significant infrastructure project, Anglian Water will then submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate for examination, with the final decision made by the Secretary of State.  Anglian Water anticipate submission of the DCO in Summer 2022.

Appendix 1 to this decision sets out the proposed response to Anglian Water from South Cambridgeshire District Council.  The Council notes that a number of criteria have applied subjective judgements to the assessment of ‘impacts’ that the Council would expect to explore further with the project team and Cambridgeshire County Council as the waste planning authority. 

The commencement and conclusion of the informal consultation phase through the summer holiday period has led to some Parish Councils contacting this Council expressing a concern about their ability to respond to this array of technical information within the time specified. The extension of the deadline for submissions to 14th September was for that reason welcomed. It will be important however to ensure that through to the next stage of the project, engagement with Parish Councils and local communities continues.

At this stage the Council is not expressing a preference for any of the site selection options.  Having enjoyed a constructive dialogue with the Project team to date, the Council and its officers look forward to early understanding of the range of responses and views expressed about the proposals by the local community and continued positive engagement with the project team on this important infrastructure project.