The recent heatwave served as a reminder of the vulnerability of our water resources and infrastructure. With recorded temperatures reaching all-time highs for May and rainfall at historic lows, water companies in the southeast implemented supply restrictions that affected 20,000 people.
The heatwave’s impact extended beyond immediate water shortages with impacts on crop yields, damaged wetland and river habitats and increased wildfire risk. This is not a unique event but rather an indicator of our collective future under current climate change scenarios.
The Evolving Regulatory Framework
In response to these mounting environmental pressures, water efficiency and neutrality is transitioning from best practice to an essential planning consideration.
The National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance now place greater emphasis on sustainable water management. Planning authorities increasingly require developers to demonstrate that new developments will not exacerbate water stress or harm sensitive water environments.
In September 2021 Natural England issued a Position Statement advising that new development within the Sussex North Water Supply Zone should demonstrate water neutrality in order to protect the Arun Valley habitats from potential impacts linked to groundwater abstraction. While this requirement has since been withdrawn following a series of proposed amendments to abstraction licenses, the area remains at significant water stress and all applications for new housing will be required to comply with a water consumption target of 110 litres/person/day (l/p/d).
Comprehensive Water Services for Development Compliance
Some Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) are requiring even more ambitious targets of 95 l/p/day.
As water neutrality and efficiency become increasingly central to the planning process, developers require expert guidance to navigate the developing regulatory requirements and demonstrate compliance. Our specialist environmental consultancy busines, Lucion Delta-Simons Ltd, offers comprehensive water services to support clients through every stage of the development process.
Our Water Efficiency services include:
- Baseline Water Consumption – Calculating estimated water consumption for proposed developments based on occupancy, use class, and minimum performance levels using industry guidance;
- Water Efficiency Strategy – Reviewing potential water saving interventions to determine water efficiency measures suitable for your development;
- Water Neutrality – Demonstrating how proposed developments can achieve water neutrality through on-site efficiency measures and, where necessary, off-site offsetting arrangements;
- Stakeholder Engagement – Liaising with water companies, Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs), and LPAs to secure support for development proposals.
- Water efficiency and neutrality considerations rarely exist in isolation. Our integrated approach combines water assessments with complementary services:
- Nutrient Neutrality: evaluating the potential consequences wastewater from new overnight accommodation could have on protected environmental areas, identifying mitigation to achieve a neutral nitrate and phosphate impact.
- Drainage Strategies: Comprehensive strategies demonstrating how surface water will be managed through Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) solutions, in line with CIRIA best practice and national and LLFA requirements.
- Environmental Impact Assessment: Preparation of Water Resources chapters for Environmental Statements, assessing effects on flood risk, water resources, water quality, and pollution control during construction and operational phases.
- Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs): Detailed assessments of flood risk from all sources (tidal, fluvial, surface water, groundwater, and artificial) ensuring developments are safe from flooding without exacerbating risk elsewhere.
Our Water Services team is led by Chartered members of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), bringing extensive practical knowledge and experience across England, Wales, and Scotland.
If you have any questions or would like to request support on your upcoming projects, please email [email protected]
