Is there an end in sight for water scarcity?

In the subsequent year, the majority, if not all, of this capacity has been released via a variety of channels. These included secretary of state appeal decisions and positive multi-agency action, such as the formation of the Water Scarcity Group, announcements on the funding of water supply infrastructure and a proposed water credits system.

Having acted for the Waterbeach Development Company on its planning application in South Cambridgeshire, Boyer was delighted when, late last year, 4,500 homes (including up to 1,350 affordable properties) at Waterbeach New Town East were granted outline planning permission following the withdrawal of the Environment Agency’s previous objection.

So, on the one hand, it does appear that this significant obstacle to meeting housing needs, and progress of site allocations in adopted local plans (in the Cambridge area at least), has been overcome. 

“It is evident that, as part of the solution, developers needed to commit to more stringent water usage standards, as low as 89 litres per person a day in some instances”

The government’s efforts to remove this hurdle appear to have also established a framework (through a package of measures) for future development that can contribute to meeting its aspirations for enhanced growth along the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, and in Cambridge in particular.

It is evident that, as part of the solution, developers needed to commit to more stringent water usage standards, as low as 89 litres per person a day in some instances. This could be seen as a positive development, driving innovative design responses.

However, clearly careful consideration needs to be given to the higher cost and viability implications of increasingly challenging restrictions.

In December, the Environment Agency published a summary of England’s revised draft regional and water resources management plans, within which the scale of water scarcity is outlined. It states that, by 2050, there will be a shortfall between the sustainable water supplies available and expected demand of nearly five billion litres of water per day.

So in places such as Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk, where issues have already been experienced, there is an urgent need for action to ensure future supplies are more resilient, and this must be demonstrated and assessed through water resources management plans.

The Environment Agency report provides examples of some effective channels for directing funding and resources, including the anticipated completion of Havant Thicket, England’s first new reservoir in over 30 years. This is one of 10 planned new reservoirs, alongside other major supply-side infrastructure projects including inter-company water transfers and new water recycling and desalination schemes.

A drive for the accelerated roll-out of smart meters to enable improved monitoring (which will allow better leakage detection) and more considerate consumer behaviour, also features prominently.

“The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which had its first and second readings in the House of Commons in March, could provide crucial practical improvements of direct relevance”

In addition, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which had its first and second readings in the House of Commons in March, could provide crucial practical improvements of direct relevance. This includes delivering a faster and more certain process for critical infrastructure through streamlined Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consultation requirements.

Other aspects, such as introducing a more strategic approach to nature recovery, could also assist in addressing environmental impacts through a new Nature Restoration Fund which, the government claims, could offer a win-win situation for both housing growth and nature.

In summary, while the issue has clearly not gone away, a combination of planning reform and more proactive infrastructure planning appears to be in train, in an attempt to ensure that the recent and frustrating delays to the delivery of much-needed housing can be avoided in future.

Matt Clarke, director, Boyer