Objections to five developments in Cambridgeshire is first time the body has intervened because of supply concerns
There is not enough water to build thousands of new homes in Cambridgeshire, the Environment Agency has said.
The Government body has objected to planning approval for five different developments in Cambridge, amounting to around 4,400 homes, on the basis that supplying new homes with water will “pose a significant risk” to the local environment.
It is believed to be the first time the EA has opposed a planning decision on the grounds of water availability, but has sparked concerns its interventions could spread.
Water companies in Cambridgeshire rely on groundwater from the area’s chalk aquifers, which contributes to damage to local chalk streams, a rare and important habitat.