The Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire says Cambridge cannot be turned into the next Silicon Valley because of a lack of water.
Anthony Brown said he has been backing plans for two new reservoirs in the area, but that would take 20 years to build.
Brown wrote on Twitter: “I will do everything I can to stop the government’s nonsense plans to impose mass housebuilding on Cambridge, where all major developments are now blocked by the Environment Agency because we have quite literally run out of water. Our streams, rivers and ponds already run dry.
“For the first time ever, the Environment Agency is systematically blocking all major new development around Cambridge because there is no water for them. We are the driest part of the country with the highest population growth.
“There is not enough water for existing housing; there is not enough for the major expansion of housing already planned; and there is not enough for any govt plans for a new quarter.
“As I say, unless the Govt can say where the water will come from, it’s plans are dead on arrival.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hit back at Brown’s comments.
He responded:” No one is doing mass house building in Cambridge, this is about adding a new urban quarter to Cambridge, which is something that local communities have spoken about. And of course that will be done in dialogue with local communities.”
Meanwhile Gove said: “I’m sure we’ll find a compelling way forward. We can’t have Cambridge – an exceptional city – being held back.
“The members of parliament for Cambridgeshire, all of whom are friends of mine, I’m looking forward to discussing our plans with [them] in order to make sure that we can have the maximum level of consensus and support for the work.”
“I believe in taking people with us and I believe that the vision that we’ve outlined is one that will command support.”
Speaking on Monday, Gove continued to promote brownfield housebuilding over the green belt.
However Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning policy at the House Builders Association, said: “Mr Gove must recognise this when championing the London and Manchester density model, but he avoided mentioning that both chose to use greenbelt to implement placemaking successfully.
“His Cambridge model will be the first test of his placemaking vision as Conservative MP’s and local councils are already opposing his spatial planning and science superpower ambition, which has already been watered down through significant changes to the governments approach to the Ox Cam Arc.”
