Yesterday, the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs granted development consent for Anglian Water’s Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant Relocation Project. Savills was part of Anglian Water’s core project team, helping to prepare the application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) and seeing it through the examination phase.
In March 2019, funding was allocated to Anglian Water and Cambridge City Council by from the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to relocate the existing Cambridge waste water treatment facility. Savills was central to Anglian Water’s successful HIF bid and continued as a key member of the project team, advising on the planning and land aspects of the DCO application.
The treatment facility, as well as being operationally net zero carbon, will be energy neutral and 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. The site of the existing treatment plant will make way for Hartree, a new district which could deliver over 8,300 homes, over 15,000 new jobs and a wide range of community, cultural and open space facilities.
Ian Cutts, Savills Infrastructure Sector Group Lead said, “This is a unique project which will shape the future of Cambridge, freeing up a 42 hectare site in the north of the city adjacent to the Cambridge Science Park and new Cambridge North rail station to accommodate thousands of new homes and significant employment space.’
David Jackson, Head of Savills Planning Division and Savills Earth said, “This is a terrific outcome for our client, Anglian Water, which unlocks the next stage of growth in Cambridge. It is also a further example of how Savills is uniquely placed to advise on infrastructure projects of national significance by engaging a range of specialist skills from across our business.'