Anglian Water warns it cannot connect more homes to water recycling centre without polluting rivers
A water company has warned that approving further new homes would increase the risk of pollution in local waterways.
Anglian Water says it can no longer connect additional properties to the Foxton Water Recycling Centre (WRC) “without breaching environmental legislation”.
Its position leaves local authorities scrambling to find solutions.
Without additional capacity at Foxton WRC, or an alternative plan for wastewater management, many proposed housing projects could face indefinite delays.
A spokesperson for South Cambridgeshire District Council said: “We are aware of Anglian Water’s recent position in a number of cases where they have highlighted the constraints to water treatment capacity.
“The local planning authority will be working with the water company and Environment Agency to explore how Anglian Water’s position impacts decision-making on local planning applications.”
The Foxton site, which also serves the Barrington area, is currently operating at its limits and cannot accommodate the increased wastewater flows that would be generated by new housing developments.
Anglian Water has identified the site as unsustainable, warning that the risk of pollution and increased discharge rates could severely deteriorate water quality in the area.
Responding to an application for 16 homes on land west of Hurdleditch Road, Orwell, it said: “This site is located within the catchment of the Foxton (Cambs) Water Recycling Centre (WRC), which currently lacks the capacity to accommodate the additional flows that would be generated by the proposed development.
“Anglian Water has determined that the site is unsustainable due to the associated pollution risk and the increased discharge rates, which could lead to a deterioration in water quality and an unacceptable risk of breaching environmental legislation at Foxton (Cambs) WRC.”
A spokesperson for Anglian Water explained: “Our detailed assessments have shown that the Foxton WRC is not equipped to handle further capacity without breaching environmental legislation.
“Expanding the site’s operations would increase the risk of pollution in local waterways, which is unacceptable under current regulatory standards.”
This decision is a setback for local government plans aimed at addressing South Cambridgeshire’s housing shortage.
It also underscores the growing tension between the need for development and the limitations of existing infrastructure – and follows on from Environment Agency objections over water concerns in 2023.
Environmental groups, including the Barrington Wastewater Action Group, have welcomed Anglian Water’s stance.
A representative from the group told the Cambridge Independent: “We’ve long been concerned about the strain that unchecked development places on our infrastructure and environment. This decision highlights the need for more sustainable planning that prioritises the health of our ecosystems.”
Critics of development plans argue that this situation was avoidable.
“The warning signs were there,” said one local resident. “It’s clear that infrastructure improvements should have been addressed before approving plans for more homes. Now, we’re left in limbo.”
Anglian Water has indicated that upgrades to the Foxton site would require significant investment and time, but no formal plans have been announced.