Recommendation 14

Defra told us that the importance of water to big investment and development opportunities was clear.36 But Water UK told us a lack of water in Cambridge had delayed the building of a new cancer hospital.37 The EA told us it had had to do a lot of work with local authorities and water companies to develop a plan which would allow for building 50,000 homes in and around Cambridge.38 The EA told us it has a statutory obligation to support sustainable development, but has nevertheless in some cases objected to new development because water companies do not have the infrastructure to cope with increased demand. It told us that in Oxford, this delayed the building of 7,000 homes, which the EA acknowledged was “a very big act by us”.39