News
Documents
Housing Minister letter to Greater Cambridge leaders (0.1MB, PDF)
Housing Minister letter to Peter Freeman - September 2024 (0.3MB, PDF)
Housing Minister letter to Peter Freeman - October 2024 (0.1MB, PDF)
27 January 2026
8 October 2025
9 July 2025
Agenda Item 4: Evidence Base – Update Report (0.1MB, PDF)
Agenda Item 5: Adoption of Environment Principles (0.1MB, PDF)
12 February 2025
22 November 2024
The work of the Cambridge Water Scarcity Group is central to the government’s ambition to work with local partners to support the growth of Greater Cambridge; in a way that is sustainable, maximising economic potential while enhancing quality of life and protecting the environment.
The objectives of the Water Scarcity Group are to advise government on the development of a detailed approach to water scarcity issues in Greater Cambridge in the short, medium, and long-term, and to advise on wastewater and drainage services.
The Group is chaired by Dr Paul Leinster (current Chair of Water Resources East and previous Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, and a member of the CGC Advisory Council), and consists of key stakeholders including water companies, the Environment Agency and water regulators, and the local planning authority. It advises the Cambridge Strategy Unit in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and meets on a monthly basis to discuss progress.
On 23rd October 2025 the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, provided a written statement to Parliament which included an update on the Water Scarcity Group’s work, and committed further funding to water efficiency programmes in Greater Cambridge. The statement also committed to use Cambridge as a testbed to trial innovative water interventions, including to switch on the water recycling system at the Eddington development in North-West Cambridge in 2026.
For further information about the Cambridge Water Scarcity Group, please visit Cambridge Water Scarcity Group - Water Resources East.
Meeting minutes and commissioned reports
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: November 2025 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: August 2025 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: July 2025 (0.2MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: May 2025 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: April 2025 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: February 2025 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: January 2025 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: December 2024 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: November 2024 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: September 2024 (0.1MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: July 2024 (0.2MB, PDF)
- Planning for Greater Cambridge Growth: Final Report (0.7MB, PDF)
- Water Scarcity Group Meeting Minutes: April 2024 (0.1MB, PDF)

Cambridge Growth Company
Eastbrook House, Shaftesbury Road,
Cambridge, CB2 8DU
United Kingdom
Engagement platform powered by Participatr
Privacy and cookie policy // Website terms of use // Accessibility statement