Leveling Secretary says Cambridge is “holding back”; Photo: Yui Mok/Pennsylvania.
Controversy has erupted within the Tory party over the government's plans for a massive expansion of the Cambridge urban area, as a local MP said he would fight 'meaningless' proposals.
Michael Gove, Upgrading Minister, has vowed to push forward the proposals, which are a central part of the government's new housing strategy. He promised that more houses would be built in city centers and fewer in the countryside.
However, the Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire, Anthony Brown, said he would do everything possible to block “massive housing construction” in the university city.
More houses will be built east of London, as well as in cities such as Manchester and Leeds and in the center of Cambridge, according to government plans. Rules will also be relaxed to allow more additions and attic conversions.
Mr Gove said he remained committed to the Tory goal of building 300,000 homes a year, but could not say when it would be reached.
Last year, Rishi Sunak made the figure advisory rather than mandatory, as he hoped to prevent a potential uprising in the background, and the government missed it.
07 06 Recession in residential construction
As part of his announcement this morning, Mr Gove announced the formation of a new Cambridge Delivery Group to be led by Peter Freeman, real estate expert and current chairman of Homes England, with £5 million backing.
He will identify the necessary housing, infrastructure, services and green spaces, and consider options for an appropriate delivery mechanism that will be needed to carry out the long-term work of planning, land acquisition and interaction with developers.
Mr Gove's plan provides for the creation of a new quarter in Cambridge to house scientists who will work there. He said his ability to compete with other global universities is being held back by the city's fixed boundaries.
But Mr Brown, whose constituency includes villages in the west side of Cambridge that could be affected by additional growth, said he would oppose the plan.
He tweeted:
I will do everything in my power to stop the government's senseless plans to impose mass housing development in Cambridge, where all major projects are currently blocked by the EPA because we have literally run out of water. Our streams, rivers and ponds are already dry.
— Anthony Brown MP (@AnthonyBrowneMP), July 24, 2023
He added: “Until the government can explain how Cambridge gets more water, its plans to impose even more housing development are dead on arrival.
“Cambridge already has the highest rate of housing development in the country and according to local plans it will double by 2050 with 50,000 new homes, effectively doubling the size of Cambridge. But there is one big problem: we have run out of water.
“For the first time, the Environment Agency is systematically blocking all major new developments around Cambridge because there is no water for them. We are the driest part of the country with the highest population growth.”
He said it would take 20 years to build two new reservoirs for the city.
“Our rivers, streams and ponds have already dried up,” he tweeted. “The Fowlmere Wetland Conservation Area where I grew up now only has water in the summer because the EPA pumps it in.
“There is not enough water for existing housing; insufficient for the already planned massive housing expansion; and it's not enough for any government plans for the new quarter.”
“It's in the national interest.”
Speaking in London, Mr Gove said: “We're going to develop a vision for Cambridge, a vision that will include beautiful integrated neighborhoods and healthy communities, as well as innovation and green space protection.
“Imagine a major new city block built to match the beauty of the historic centre.
“One built on the principles of high quality design, urban beauty and streetscapes that mimic the scale and quality of neighborhoods like Clifton in Bristol or Marylebone in London.
“Give your inner eye a look at what the environment in which those who live and work in Cambridge would spend their evenings and weekends could look like, adding to Parker Peace, Jesus Green and the Botanic Gardens a significant new green space that rivals not only the Queen’s Parks of the capital, but also the best city parks in the world.”
Responding to a question for comments, Mr Gove said: “I have great respect for all Cambridge MPs wide.” these are plans which I am sure the vast majority of those who follow the economic situation in Cambridge will find a convincing way forward. You can't let Cambridge, an exceptional city, hold back.
“We know that when Cambridge, Massachusetts offers an investment alternative on the scale that it can offer, we need change.
“The Cambridgeshire MPs are all my friends — I look forward to discussing our plans so that we can reach the highest level of consensus and support for the work that Peter Freeman and others will undertake.”
He added: “It will be so that I am sure that conservative supporters and others, as soon as they have the opportunity to look at our plans, will understand that it is in the national interest and therefore we are acting.”
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