THE WATER COMPANY NWL S POSITION IN PLANNING

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1 4/14/015 CONTENTS THE WATER COMPANY NWL S POSITION IN PLANNING Les Hall 15 April 015 A NATIONAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT The national and political context Northumbrian Water s traditional role as a sewerage undertaker Northumbrian Water s role in planning The key water issues in the planning process The surface water challenge and the importance of planning policy Flood and Water Management Act 010 new responsibilities and collaborative working opportunities The benefits of early engagement Questions BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENT - INFRASTRUCTURE Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future Recognition of 30 years of under-delivery of housing by all governments Housing Green Paper million homes by 00 National Planning Policy Framework aims to simplify planning policy with a view to promoting economic and housing growth Conservative Party - 00,000 houses per year by 017 Labour Party - 00,000 houses per year by 00 and predicting a 1.3 million national housing shortfall North East Chamber of Commerce 014 report Solving the Housing Conundrum - the North East s housing market has under-performed for the past decade and last year built only half of the number of homes needed Recognises need for a smooth and collaborative process to make sure the right utility infrastructure is in place to enable developments to connect in a timely and cost effective manner. Creation of a shared understanding between utility companies and developers about utilities connections. Enable growth by ensuring utilities are in the right location, at the right time and at the right cost. To make this a reality, developers, utilities companies and regulators must all work together to continuously reduce the complexities, uncertainties and the length of time faced when connecting to utilities. Document is a starting point and sets out shared expectations for developers and utility companies in England. 1

2 4/14/015 NORTHUMBRIAN WATER S DUTIES UNDER THE WATER INDUSTRY ACT, 1991 Section 94 - To provide, improve and extend such a system of public sewers.to ensure its area is and continues to be effectively drained. Section 98 - To provide new off site sewer requisitions for new development. Section 104 To manage the adoption of sewers serving new development sites including conventional piped storm water storage systems. Section 106 To manage the connection of flows from new development into the public sewerage system. Section 185 To divert sewers and water mains to facilitate development. NORTHUMBRIAN WATER SCALE OF INFRASTRUCTURE NORTHUMBRIAN WATER - A STATUTORY CONSULTEE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS? Assets Number System zones 11 Drainage Areas 477 Northumbrian Water Sewage Pumping Stations 683 Sewage treatment works 437 Combined Sewer Overflows 1500 Essex & Suffolk Water Manholes Sewers (Total) 1,50, km KEY WATER RELATED ISSUES FOR PLANNING Water resources and supply Foul sewerage network capacity Sewage treatment capacity and odour assessment Surface water management WATER SUPPLY AND NETWORKS Northumbrian Water has a statutory duty to prepare and maintain a Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) under the Water Resources Management Plan Regulations It must demonstrate how we intend to maintain the balance between supply and demand over the next 5 years Delivery of new water supply infrastructure and reinforcement of existing networks is covered by Sections 41 and 45 of Water Industry Act 1991 The ability to supply water should never be a planning matter Certain developments in Water Protection Zones need to be carefully considered

3 4/14/015 FOUL SEWERAGE NETWORK Foul sewage flows are minimal in the overall discharge from development sites. Low flood risk potential Section 94 duty to provide, improve and extend the public sewerage network Increases in flows are incremental and upgrades can be prioritised and planned Investment in Drainage Area Studies to identify future investment requirements Studies consider housing growth, urban creep and climate change Capacity outputs of Drainage Area Studies shared with Local Planning Authorities as part of SHLAA and Water Cycle Studies SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS CAPACITY Planning assessment will consider treatment and dry weather flow capacity versus consents. Odour assessment may be required. Where STW close to capacity: Look at potential for phased development STW at capacity and upgrade proposed: Use Grampian condition to ensure development comes forward in line with upgrade STW at capacity and no upgrade currently proposed: Use Grampian condition to enable upgrade works to be implemented prior to development coming forward Investment will be progressed once it is clear that a development will go ahead Not just a tentative proposal It needs to be a realistic phased approach SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT 40m invested m invested properties removed from register 1060 properties funded m to be invested Design criteria 1 in 40 return 01 flooding a 8m impact 3

4 4/14/015 SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH 6 MANAGING SURFACE WATER Increased demands on the sewerage system should not put properties at risk of flooding from storm events with a return period less than 1 in 0 years. - Expected level of service -OFWAT Time (years) Unrestricted SW Flows Restricted SW Flows Surface Water Reduction Part H of Building Regulations - Hierarchy of preference for surface water management: SuDS Watercourse Surface water sewer Combined sewer Our responses to planning consultations seeks to separate, minimise and control surface water flows from development. We will engage at each stage of plan preparation to encourage this approach HOW WE HAVE INFLUENCED PLANNING POLICY TO MANAGE SURFACE WATER Separate Foul and surface water flows separated Surface water connection to public sewer only as last resort AND Minimise If only option then flows restricted equivalent greenfield runoff 50% reduction on brownfield site (STOP PRESS SuDS consultation sets tougher targets ) AND Control Connection points specified to minimise flood risk Storage i.e. ponds / tanks / pipes SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES Recent SuDS and Statutory Consultee consultations brought about significant changes to original Flood and Water Management Act proposals: SuDS maintenance and funding to be covered by planning condition SuDS maintenance and adoption LLFA / Developer / Private Management Company / Water Company / Wildlife Trust...its all down to the planning condition Lead Local Flood Authority to become statutory consultees for developments of 10 or more houses ( Water companies are not) No removal of automatic right of connection for surface water to the public sewerage system Reinforces the concept of separate, minimise and control for surface water, subject to what is reasonably practicable and impact on housing viability Proposes that surface water flows from both greenfield and brownfield sites are restricted to greenfield run-off rates (subject to what is reasonably practicable ) MANAGING SURFACE WATER IN PARTNERSHIP Surface water management and flood risk remains one of the key issues for customers faced with adjacent development. Early agreement of surface water drainage principles between Local Planning Authority, Developer, Water Company and Lead Local Flood Authority needed. Pre-application discussions with all relevant bodies could enable the clarity and certainty for all parties in agreeing surface water principles. Well considered and agreed surface water management and SuDS principles should help to manage the expectations of Development Management committees and concerned customers. EARLY ENGAGEMENT IN THE PLANNING PROCESS NWL supports and advises on Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan preparation NWL s involvement in evidence based documents supporting the Local Plans Water Cycle Study Surface Water Management Plan Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment NWL and Local Planning Authority data sharing Sewer flooding locations GIS mapping and pipe data Sewer capacity factors Hydraulic models from Drainage Area Studies Strategic Housing Land shape files 4

5 4/14/015 BENEFITS OF EARLY ENGAGEMENT IN THE PLANNING PROCESS Any areas of infrastructure incapacity highlighted early through the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan process Agreed responsibilities within an Infrastructure Delivery Plan Excellent evidence base to support our supply/demand balance case for investment funding in future asset management plans Opportunity to prioritise and phase development in areas of known capacity and carry out drainage master planning for other developable areas Identifies surface water separation and flood risk reduction opportunities QUESTIONS Thank you for listening Provides robust sewer flooding risk data in response to planning consultations Improved line of sight for all parties in our common aim of delivering housing and no surprises for developers 5