A decision on whether to relocate sewage treatment works has been delayed for the second time.

Anglian Water was asked by the government to look into the relocation of the current site in the north of Cambridge so that new homes could be built in the area – plans were submitted to build a new facility on Honey Hill, between Horningsea and Fen Ditton.

The government has committed £277 million to the project to build the new sewage works, with the total cost estimated to be around £400 million. However, the relocation of the plant has received criticism from locals, with objectors arguing against the removal of green belt land as a result of the project.

Anglian Water applied for a Development Consent Order (DCO) which was later received on 12 July last year, with a decision on the project due to be made in October. However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated more time was needed to consider the issue – the decision was postponed to 12 Jan.

It has since been deferred again to 14 April by Steve Reed, Environment Secretary for DEFRA. The Labour MP, in a written statement made on 13 January, deemed the deadline extension “necessary” since the application must be “properly analysed with consideration given to the government’s updated policies,” referring to the government’s revision of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Reed also stressed that “the decision to set the new deadline for this application is without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.”

In its aim to revamp Cambridge’s sewage system through the relocation of the plant, it is projected to enable residential and economic development in North East Cambridge where the current plant is located.

The Cambridge City Council and the South Cambridgeshire District Council plan on building a new district in the North East Cambridge zone which would, according to the North East Cambridge Area Action Plan, facilitate the creation of 8,350 new homes and 15,000 new jobs.