A number of ‘nationally significant’ projects are being planned in Cambridgeshire, including a new railway, and a solar farm that could power up to 175,000 homes. The infrastructure projects aim to meet the demands of growth in the region, including looking at how water will be supplied to more homes, and how enough energy will be generated.
The Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are examined by the planning inspectorate, before a decision is made by the relevant Secretary of State. The projects are treated separately to other planning applications, which are normally decided by councils, due to their “size and importance to wider communities”.
The process of putting together a NSIP application, examining it, and a decision finally being issued can take years. In Cambridgeshire only one of the NSIPs is due for a decision this year, with the rest still yet to formally submit a full application. Here are the four infrastructure projects in the county currently acknowledged by the government.
Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plan relocation
A decision is expected to soon be made on the project to build a new Cambridge Waste Water Treatment Plant. Anglian Water has proposed to build the new sewage works on land north of the A14 between Horningsea and Fen Ditton, known as Honey Hill. If built the plant will replace the existing facility in the north east of the city.
The project has been pursued in order for the land the existing plant sits on to be redeveloped as part of the North East Cambridge development, which proposes to build 8,000 new homes, as well as 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.
The project has faced backlash from people in the area, with some people asking why green belt land should be “sacrificed” in order to build the new plant. A decision had been scheduled to be made on October 12, but was delayed to allow time for further consultation. The current deadline for a decision to be issued is January 12.
East West Rail – Bedford to Cambridge
The East West Rail project proposes to build a new railway line between Bedford Station and Cambridge Station. If the project gets permission and is built people will be able to catch a train between Oxford and Cambridge. New stations are proposed along the Bedford to Cambridge route including at Tempsford and Cambourne. The project is currently in the ‘pre-application’ stage of process, where the formal application is created.
East West Rail is currently holding a non-statutory consultation, which runs until January 24, to gather views on the plans. Concerns about the project have been raised, including that it will not bring benefits to people living in the area who will be most impacted by the building of the railway line. A formal application for the project is not expected to be submitted to the planning inspectorate until summer 2026.
Fens Reservoir
The Fens Reservoir is proposed to be built between Chatteris and Doddington to meet the growing demand for water supply in the East of England. The project is being put together by Anglian Water and Cambridge Water. If built, the reservoir could create over 30 million cubic metres of water storage.
Alongside contributing to the area’s water supply, there are also plans to include renewable energy generation, wildlife and environmental areas, as well as leisure and recreation facilities at the reservoir. The project is currently in the pre-application stage, with a formal application not expected to be submitted until 2026.
Kingsway Solar Farm
The Kingsway Solar Farm is proposed to be built on various parcels of land to the south east of Cambridge, around the villages of Balsham, West Wratting, Weston Colville, and Weston Green. Current plans suggest the solar farm could cover 1,500 hectares of land and generate power for up to 175,000 homes.
The company leading the project said it is currently considering the responses to a consultation it held towards the end of last year. It added that further information about the plans will be available for people to view and comment on during a second consultation later this year. The project is currently in the pre-application stage, with plans expected to be formally submitted in the autumn this year.