Critical pipeline project begins consultation as Cambridge faces water crisis
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A major infrastructure consultation is underway as Anglian Water and Cambridge Water announce plans for a new 28-kilometre pipeline that will connect Grafham with Cambridge. The project aims to secure the long-term water supply for one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities, responding to both environmental stress and demographic change.
The proposed pipeline, which opened for public consultation on 27 October, marks the first phase of Anglian Water’s multi-billion-pound AMP8 investment programme. The strategic interconnector will form a vital link in a broader 70-kilometre network designed to move millions of litres of water across the East of England. This first section will be capable of transferring 26 million litres of water each day, with future extensions planned to reach Suffolk and support a regional reservoir system.
The consultation period runs until 21 December 2025, offering residents and stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback before a formal planning application is submitted.
Infrastructure to support growth and resilience
Cambridge has emerged as a critical area in the UK’s economic and scientific landscape, attracting investment, talent and housing development at pace. With more than 720,000 new residents forecast across the East of England by 2043, the region faces urgent pressure on core infrastructure.
Water supply is among the most pressing challenges. A dry climate, coupled with increasing demand, is pushing existing systems beyond their sustainable limits. The recent record-breaking dry spring and summer, the driest since 1976, has only underscored the vulnerability of the East of England to climate-related shocks.
Ian Rule, director of water services at Anglian Water, said the region is seeing the direct effects of climate change. “We are acting now to ensure that, together with Cambridge Water, we can supply our region with clean, reliable water and strengthen local resilience,” he said.
The AMP8 initiative aims to build resilience into the water network by creating flexibility across different sources and service areas. The interconnector from Grafham to Cambridge is designed to ensure water can be redirected where it is most needed, preventing localised shortages and reducing dependence on any single supply point.
Building the interconnector
Technically, the interconnector is a high-capacity pipeline that will draw water from Anglian Water’s Grafham network into the Cambridge Water system. The route stretches 28 kilometres but forms part of a broader 70-kilometre corridor designed to optimise water transfers across the region.
The project is being delivered through the Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA), a partnership that includes engineering and infrastructure specialists Costain, Farrans, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald Bentley, working closely with Cambridge Water.
Caroline Cooper, strategy and regulation director at Cambridge Water, emphasised the environmental and strategic benefits of the project. “This interconnector will help us unlock a more sustainable future,” she said. “It will enable us to deliver a reliable water supply to our customers, relieve the pressure on underground aquifers, and retain more water for our environment and chalk streams.”
Ecological surveys have already begun along the pipeline route. Plans are being refined to minimise disruption to habitats and communities, with early design changes made to protect local wildlife. The companies have said that the pipeline will help reduce the need for water abstraction in environmentally sensitive areas.
Local engagement and environmental planning
The success of the interconnector depends not only on engineering excellence but also on community engagement. Anglian Water and Cambridge Water are hosting a series of consultation events across the pipeline corridor, inviting residents to review detailed plans, maps and FAQs.
“This is a pivotal project for our AMP8 infrastructure delivery,” said Andy Alder, managing director of major infrastructure delivery at Anglian Water. “It must be delivered in the right way. That includes ensuring that residents have an opportunity to learn about the work we’re proposing and share their views during the planning process.”
The companies are inviting contributions from local authorities, community groups and residents. A feedback platform has been launched alongside in-person events to ensure transparency and participation.
The engagement strategy is part of a wider shift in how major infrastructure projects are developed in the UK, with regulatory expectations and social licence increasingly dependent on early-stage consultation and consensus-building.
A regional vision for water security
The Grafham to Cambridge interconnector is one component of a long-term regional strategy. In parallel with this project, Anglian Water and Cambridge Water are advancing plans for a new reservoir in the Cambridgeshire Fens. The third phase of consultation for that development is running concurrently, closing on 10 December.
Together, these projects form a blueprint for addressing the East of England’s water challenges over the next 25 years. Beyond emergency supply and crisis response, they signal a broader transformation in how water infrastructure is planned, funded and operated.
The need for investment is pressing. With climate instability expected to intensify, and with the region forecast to grow rapidly, the pipeline is as much about future-proofing as it is about meeting present-day demand.
In both design and delivery, the Grafham to Cambridge interconnector is an example of strategic foresight. By shifting water across systems, safeguarding aquifers, and engaging communities early in the process, Anglian Water and Cambridge Water are setting a precedent for infrastructure planning in the face of environmental and demographic change.
The consultation remains open until 21 December. Full details, including the proposed route, timelines and event information, can be found on the Anglian Water and Cambridge Water websites.
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