Examiners said there was 'not a convincing case' for development

EXAMINERS said there was "not a convincing case" to justify building the new Cambridge sewage works, which has now been approved.

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They said the project would harm the green belt and highlighted Anglian Water had confirmed the existing plant had capacity and could be expanded.

The examiners recommended that permission for the controversial project should be withheld.

However, the relocation was approved by Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for environment, food and rural affairs, who said he disagreed with the examiners and argued there was justification for the project.

The recommendation made by the examining authority has now been published. The examiners said there was "not a convincing case" for the Development Consent Order (DCO) to be granted and recommended that it should not be approved.

In the report the examiners highlighted that the benefits of the redevelopment of the existing site to build new homes was not part of the DCO application itself.

The examiners pointed out that there are currently no approved plans to redevelop the existing sewage works and said they could not 'pre-judge' the outcome of any planning application submitted by a third party.