Comment

Representation ID: 22520

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: Broadland Green Party

Renewable energy should be encouraged and supported including schemes to allow and promote community energy projects.
There is a “right to connect” for new developments which means that the utility, Anglian Water, has no option but to connect new housing developments to the water supply and sewerage systems. Currently, they are unable to object to developments on the basis of insufficient infrastructure to cope and yet we see problems of water supply, sewerage capacity and sewage works (water recycling) capacity across the county. This will lead to water shortages and has resulted already in surface water flooding from sewers and regular emergency tankering of sludge from smaller rural sewage works (Reedham village is an example).
There is, therefore, a need to review the way in which utility companies contribute to decisions on planning applications. As a minimum, a higher priority should be given to the views of utilities regarding local capacity. Ofwat also has a role to play in requiring the investment necessary to bring infrastructure up to the required standard. Companies like Anglian Water make significant profits. They should be required to reinvest those profits into the public infrastructure.
Existing water resources cannot support an increased population. In March 2019 the Environment Agency chief executive James Bevan warned that England could face severe water shortages in the next 25 years if action is not taken now (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47620228). East Anglia is one of the regions most at risk of experiencing drought and water shortage.
It does not make sense, therefore, to create more jobs and build more houses that cannot be sustained by existing natural resources. As Sir James Bevan stated, “The impact of climate change, combined with population growth, means the country is facing an “existential threat””.