Comment

Representation ID: 29111

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: Environment Agency

Local Plans should consider the capacity and quality of water supply systems and any impact development may have on the environment, including understanding the supply and demand patterns now and in the future across the LPA area.

We encourage LPAs to ensure emerging Local Plans and major developments identify and plan for the required levels of water efficiency and water supply infrastructure to support growth, taking into account costs and timings/phasing of development.

Local Plans should consider the environmental capacity of the water environment using evidence sources such as the RBMPs. The quality and capacity of the existing wastewater treatment works and sewerage network should also be considered.

Water companies hold information and data to help with this. Additional capacity may be required to serve increased housing numbers. Where this is the case LPAs should work with water companies and us to understand the impact increased development would have on the receiving water environment, and the practicalities of water companies providing necessary upgrades.