Environment secretary Steve Reed has granted development consent for the major new Cambridge waste water treatment plant.

The decision allows Anglian Water to move forward with construction of an advanced facility at Honey Hill on green belt land between Fen Ditton and Horningsea, north of the A14.

It will be built by firms in the @one Alliance consisting of Anglian Water Asset Delivery, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), MWH Treatment, Skanska, and SWECO.

Anglia is targeting a 70% reduction in capital or embedded carbon during the construction phase compared to a 2010 baseline by adopting sustainable construction techniques.

The Development Consent Order was originally expected in 2024 but was pushed back following a statutory extension and further scrutiny under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects process.

The project is critical for the regeneration of North East Cambridge, unlocking the existing Cowley Road site for 8,000 new homes, 1m sq ft of commercial space, and thousands of jobs.

The scheme is backed by £277m from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, with delivery being led by Anglian Water in partnership with Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.