Appeal won to build 1,000 homes despite water fears

The homes in Cambridge will be part of the Darwin Green development on the west side of the city.

A developer has won an appeal to build a further 1,000 homes at the Darwin Green development in Cambridge.

The outline application for the next phases of the development had been opposed by the Environment Agency.

It argued the plans should not go ahead because there were concerns about supplying the homes with water.

However, the developers argued the new homes were not due to be built for a few years, and there was time to resolve issues.

The inspector said a new water resources management plan would “offer a viable solution to the issues of water supply"

The outline planning application proposed to build up to 1,000 homes, a new primary school, secondary school, shops, community facilities and a country park.

An inquiry was held in January to hear arguments from both sides, and the government announced on Wednesday that it would allow the appeal and grant planning permission.

The decision report said it did agree "abstraction pressure is contributing to ecological deterioration." However, it also said there was "insufficient evidence" to show that this development alone would contribute to it.

It acknowledged it would "cumulatively add to any existing pressure on the ecology of surface waterbodies.”

The inspector said a new water resources management plan would “offer a viable solution to the issues of water supply to the appeal development”.

The plans were then approved by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Building Safety and Homelessness, Rushanara Ali MP, on behalf of the Secretary of State Angela Rayner MP.

The letter published by the government said the Secretary of State had “carefully considered” the effects of the development on water supply and agreed with the inspector’s conclusions.

The Secretary of State’s decision can be challenged through an application to the High Court within six weeks.

The Environment Agency has been approached for comment.