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1. Anglian Water
1.1. Anglian Water is the water and water recycling provider for over 6 million customers in the east of England. Our operational area spans between the Humber and Thames estuaries and includes around a fifth of the English coastline. The region is the driest in the UK and the lowest lying, with a quarter of our area below sea level. This makes it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change including heightened risks of both drought and flooding, including inundation by the sea.
1.2. Anglian Water has amended its Articles of Association to legally enshrine public interest within the constitutional make up of our business – this is our pledge to deliver wider benefits to society, above and beyond the provision of clean, fresh drinking water and effective treatment of used water. Our Purpose is to bring environmental and social prosperity to the region we serve through our commitment to Love Every Drop.
2. Anglian Water and Local Plans 2.1. Anglian Water is is the statutory water and sewerage undertaker for the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) area and a statutory consultee under The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. Anglian Water wants to proactively engage with the local plan process to ensure the plan delivers benefits for residents and visitors to the area, and in doing so protect the environment and water resources. As a purpose-led company, we are committed to seeking positive environmental and social outcomes for our region.
3. Commentary on the GNLP Gypsy & Traveller Sites Focused Consultation
3.1. Anglian Water has contributed to the utilities assessment of the proposed Gypsy and Traveller sites regarding connections to our water supply and water recycling networks and any identified encroachment issues on our assets/network.
3.2. We recognise the wider policy considerations that inform the selection of proposed sites within this consultation. The ability to connect to our networks where sites are adjacent to larger settlements that are serviced by a water recycling centre (WRC) means there are more sustainable and resilient options to treating wastewater arising from Gypsy and Traveller sites. Many of the sites are in rural locations or not closely related to our WRC catchments and therefore are likely to be reliant on non-mains sewerage solutions such as private package treatment plans. A joint advice note by Anglian Water and the Environment Agency in relation to non-mains sewerage options can be found on our website1.
1 https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/contentassets/ff314e5a2ec1452387d7aa04f6519c33/2020-11-10-aw-ea-non-mains-sewerage-advice-note---final.pdf
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POLICY GNLP5004 LAND OFF BUXTON ROAD, EASTGATE, CAWSTON
3.3. Anglian Water notes the site is located close to existing development within the settlement, and therefore it is within a reasonable distance to connect to our water supply and water recycling networks.
POLICY GNLP5005 LAND AT STRAYGROUND LANE WYMONDHAM RECYCLING CENTRE, WYMONDHAM
3.4. As referenced as part of the initial assessment, this site is within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, but it is located outside the Wymondham water recycling catchment.
POLICY GNLP5009 LAND OFF HOCKERING LANE, BAWBURGH
3.5. Anglian Water notes the site is located close to existing development within the settlement, and within a reasonable distance to connect to our water supply and water recycling networks.
POLICY GNLP5014 A47 NORTH BURLINGHAM JUNCTION
3.6. The site is located within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, but due to its rural location, it is not within reasonable distance of our water recycling network catchments.
3.7. The A47 road improvement scheme will require the diversion of our assets at this location, and this should be a consideration for future connections.
POLICY GNLP5019 WOODLAND STABLE, SHORTTHORN ROAD, STRATTON STRAWLESS
3.8. The site is located within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, and is adjacent to the Aylsham water recycling catchment, although this part of the network operates as a vacuum sewer system which can take up to 24 months for a connection due to the requirements to assess the capacity of the network. We would suggest that any policy should include a requirement for early engagement with Anglian Water regarding connection to our water recycling network.
POLICY GNLP5020 ROMANY MEADOW, THE TURNPIKE, CARLETON RODE
3.9. The site is located within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, but due to its rural location, it is not within reasonable distance of our water recycling network catchments.
POLICY GNLP5021 LAND OFF HOLT ROAD, HORSFORD
3.10. The site is located within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, but due to its rural location, it is not within reasonable distance of our water recycling network catchments.
3.11. There is a mains water pipe to the northern boundary of the site. We will require sufficient stand-off distances around the water main or diversion at the developers' cost and to the satisfaction of Anglian Water. Further information on the location of our assets can be obtained via utilities.digdat.co.uk
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POLICY GNLP5022 LAND OFF REEPHAM ROAD, THE OAKS, FOULSHAM
3.12. The site is located within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, but due to its rural location, it is not within reasonable distance of our water recycling network catchments.
POLICY GNLP5023 LAND OFF STRAYGROUND LANE, WYMONDHAM
3.13. The site is located within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, but due to its rural location, it is not within reasonable distance of our water recycling network catchments.
POLICY GNLP5024 UPGATE STREET, CARLETON RODE
3.14. This site does not appear to be in close proximity to a water supply connection or our water recycling network. As the neighbouring site is occupied and was granted planning permission in 2010, there is an assumption that a water supply is available and sewerage treatment is confirmed as a package treatment plant through the documents submitted with the planning application.
Reasonable Alternative
POLICY GNLP5013 KETTERINGHAM DEPOT LAND WEST OF STATION LANE, KETTERINGHAM
3.15. As a reasonable alternative site, Anglian Water notes that the site is located within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, but it is not within reasonable distance of our water recycling network catchments.
Unreasonable Alternatives
VCHAP SITE 1 AND SITE 2, MIDDLE ROAD, DENTON
3.16. Anglian Water notes the constraints identified regarding these sites and reasons why they have not been brought forward. In terms of access to our water supply and water recycling networks we can state that these sites are located within reasonable proximity to connect to our water supply network, but due to the rural location of these sites, they are not within reasonable distance to connect to our water recycling network catchments.
4. Conclusion
4.1. Anglian Water has assessed the potential to access our water supply and water recycling networks for the proposed Gypsy and Traveller Sites and identified where there are policy requirements regarding connections to our network or to ensure sufficient measures are in place to protect our assets within or adjacent to the proposed sites.
