Cambridge to get a development corporation to tackle water issues and drive growth
- Oct 26, 2025
- 2 min read
(by Karma Loveday)
The Government intends to consult on establishing a centrally-led development corporation to deliver nationally significant growth in Greater Cambridge, backed by £400m of initial investment.
In a written statement to Parliament, housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the new corporation would build on the work to date of the Cambridge Growth Company (CGC) to “realise the full potential of Greater Cambridge as part of our plans to supercharge growth in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor”.
The funding will in part be used to tackle water constraints. Pennycook said:
“The Government has instructed Anglian Water to accelerate planning for wastewater infrastructure upgrades required to accommodate development and growth both now and for the Cambridge Growth Company’s long-term ambitions for expansion in Greater Cambridge. This will report to Government by early 2026.
Work continues with local partners and the advisory Water Scarcity Group to deliver our water efficiency programme. The first phase, backed by £5m of investment, is already underway and will roll out water retrofits in social housing and public buildings across the city.
Investment announced today will go towards expanding delivery of the water efficiency programme and wider water package to address water scarcity. We will also use Cambridge as a testbed to trial innovative water interventions, including working with experts to switch on the water recycling system at the Eddington site in North-West Cambridge next year.”
The minister said a new chief executive will be recruited to lead the next phase of the CGC’s programme, and that local democratically-elected leaders would be invited to join the new development corporation’s board.
Other constraints in the area include transport and housing. The CGC is working with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and other local partners to explore options for mass rapid transit solutions for Cambridge.
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