Publication Plan April 2024

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13. Climate change and sustainable development

Renewable and low carbon energy

13.1 The council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, recognising the urgency and scale of the climate crisis. The Local Plan Review needs to play its part in achieving the rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions required to provide a liveable future for residents in the district and beyond. Currently Staffordshire's demand for electricity is around ten times greater than the County's renewable energy generation capacity, with this gap only set to increase with the increasing reliance on electricity for transport and low carbon heating. Local evidence suggests that bridging this gap will require both decentralised renewable energy generation and large-scale increases in renewable technology, particularly wind and solar energy.

13.2 Providing a policy framework for rapid growth in these technologies will be crucial to ensuring that South Staffordshire plays its part in decarbonising the grid by 2035. Policies NB6a, NB6b and NB6c are designed to drive decentralised renewable provision on new development sites. However there has been limited growth in large scale renewable schemes within South Staffordshire during the previous plan period. Specifically, there has been no new large-scale onshore wind schemes consented and limited growth in large scale solar farms. Evidence suggests this needs to be addressed quickly if the government's ambition to increase growth in onshore wind and solar through the 2020s is to be realised.

13.3 To provide a policy framework to deliver growth in renewable energy generation, Policy NB5 indicates support for such schemes within the district. It also provides clear criteria to guide solar and wind schemes to less sensitive areas of the district. These are designed to help balance the rapid growth required in these technologies with the need to protect the amenity of the district's residents, safeguard its valuable agricultural land resources and address specific issues relevant to wind technologies in particular. It also recognises that many of the opportunity areas for renewable schemes within the district are in the Green Belt, addressing this issue to provide clarity to applicants.

Policy NB5: Renewable and low carbon energy generation

The development of renewable or sustainable energy technologies and complementary infrastructure will be supported throughout the district, subject to conformity with other local plan policies. Such technologies include solar, wind, district heating, hydroelectricity, ground source heat and complementary battery storage schemes. In considering the impacts of a scheme the cumulative impact of the proposed development will be considered along with other planned, committed or completed development.

In addition to conformity with other local plan policies, solar energy proposals and associated infrastructure must also demonstrate that:

  1. The use of agricultural land is necessary and no alternative available and suitable previously developed site within the district can accommodate a scheme of similar scale. The area of search considered should have regard to a viable connection (in distance) to the National Grid;
  2. If (a) is satisfied but the scheme is on Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land, that there are no alternative sites on lower grade agricultural land that could accommodate the scheme; and
  3. That the proposal has considered opportunities for continued agricultural use (where feasible) and will maximise biodiversity benefits around arrays.

In the case of wind energy proposals, the whole of the district is designated as an area of search suitable in principle for wind energy development. In addition to conformity with other local plan policies, wind proposals must also demonstrate all of the following:

  1. The development does not create a potential hazard to the public, including users of highways, footpaths, bridleways or other public rights of way.
  2. The development does not interfere with telecommunication paths or air traffic services including those associated with the military.
  3. They do not have an overshadowing or overbearing effect on nearby residents.
  4. The development avoids or adequately mitigates shadow, flicker, noise and any other adverse impact on amenity.
  5. Following consultation, it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by affected local communities have been fully addressed.

Within the district's Green Belt, elements of many renewable energy schemes may comprise inappropriate development and in all such cases schemes must demonstrate very special circumstances in order to be granted permission. Benefits of schemes relevant in considering whether very special circumstances exist may include (but are not limited to) the wider environmental benefits associated with increased production of energy from renewable sources.

Development proposals should be consistent with other Local Plan policies.

Key Evidence

  •  Staffordshire Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation - Baseline
  •  Staffordshire Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation - Final Report

Implementation

Local/national Funding

Partnerships

Section 106/278

Development Management

Supplementary Planning Document

Yes

Yes

Sustainable Construction

Addressing the Climate Emergency – new development

13.4 Emissions from buildings are the district's biggest source of emissions aside from surface transport. New development needs to avoid worsening this issue and can play a part in encouraging widespread use of the technologies needed to decarbonise the wider built stock in the district. The Local Plan Review anticipates significant residential and employment growth, and it is important that emissions associated with the energy needs and construction of this growth are minimised as far and as quickly as possible.

13.5 It is also vital that decentralised renewable energy generation is delivered wherever possible and that increased monitoring of new development occurs to ensure that 'as built' outcomes match those proposed at the design stage. If these issues aren't addressed, the district will fail to play its part in decarbonising Staffordshire's energy demands and there will continue to be a performance gap in building standards. The district is in an area of serious water stress, and the effects of climate change will only serve to worsen this issue in future.

13.6 To address these issues the suite of policies draws on existing national assessment frameworks to set carbon reduction targets for energy use in both residential and non-residential developments, whilst increasing monitoring of 'as built' outcomes to offer greater assurance that the required reductions are actually achieved on the ground. It also requires larger developments to robustly assess and seek opportunities to reduce their embodied carbon footprint.

New build residential development

Policy NB6A: Net zero new build residential development (operational energy)

A1. Overarching carbon reduction

New residential development of 1 or more homes shall achieve net zero regulated and unregulated carbon emissions, through the application of requirements A2 – A4 laid out below.

Regulated carbon emissions should be calculated with SAP10.2 or any more recent replacement methodology.

The regulated carbon reduction should be achieved through on-site measures, unless this is demonstrated to the council's satisfaction that it is unviable or unfeasible with reference to site-specific factors.

A2. Energy efficiency

A 63% reduction on the Part L 2021 TER (regulated carbon emissions), is to be achieved through energy efficiency features.

Alternatively, where Passivhaus certification is proposed (or a space heat demand of ≤20kWh/m2/year and a total energy use intensity of ≤45kWh/m2/year) and the proposal is fossil fuel free, the applicant will not need to submit SAP calculations. In that case the applicant's Energy Statement should instead cite their PHPP calculations, and a condition will be set requiring evidence of fulfilment on completion.

A3. Renewable energy supply

Subsequent to point A2, a further reduction to net zero regulated carbon emissions is to be achieved through on-site renewable energy generation and/or connection to a certified renewable or low-carbon (fossil-free) local energy network.

Where it is proven unfeasible or unviable to include enough on-site renewable energy to achieve a 100% reduction in TER in this way, and this can be demonstrated to the council's satisfaction with reference to site-specific factors, the applicant will first demonstrate inclusion of as much renewable energy as feasible and viable, then address the remaining regulated carbon emissions by offsetting as per point A4.

Large-scale development (50 residential units or more) should demonstrate that opportunities for on-site renewable energy infrastructure (on-site but not on or attached to individual dwellings), such as solar PV canopies on car parks, have been explored.

Proposals are encouraged to demonstrate that the amount of on-site renewable energy generation equates to ≥120 kWh/m2projected building footprint/year.

A4. Offsetting

Only in exceptional circumstances and as a last resort where it is demonstrably unfeasible to achieve the requirements of A3 above, any residual carbon emissions from regulated and unregulated energy are to be offset via a Section 106 financial contribution reflecting 30 years of the building's operation.

A5. Reduced performance gap

Applicants are encouraged to submit, alongside their SAP figures, a set of total energy performance predictive calculations using Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP), CIBSE TM54, or other method demonstrably proven to produce accurate predictions of total in-use energy.

An assured performance method must be implemented throughout all phases of construction to ensure operational energy in practice performs to predicted levels at the design stage.

A6. Smart energy systems

Proposals should demonstrate how they have considered the difference (in scale and time) of renewable energy generation and the on-site energy demand, with a view to maximising on-site consumption of energy generated on site and minimising the need for wider grid infrastructure reinforcement.

Where the on-site renewable energy generation peak is not expected to coincide with sufficient energy demand, resulting in a need to export or waste significant amounts of energy, proposals should demonstrate how they have explored scope for (and where appropriate implemented) energy storage and/or smart distribution systems.

A7. Post-occupancy evaluation

Large-scale development (over 50 homes) should monitor and report total energy use and renewable energy generation values on an annual basis for 5 years from first occupation. An outline plan for the implementation of this should be submitted with the application. Monitored data are to be reported to the local planning authority.

Development proposals should be consistent with other Local Plan policies.

13.7 Policy NB6A sets out the requirements for new homes' carbon performance with seven different policy elements (A1-A7) to be addressed. A1 – A7 are to be demonstrated at the planning application stage through the submission of an energy statement (or sufficiently detailed energy chapter within a wider sustainability statement), alongside associated output reports from energy modelling software. Policy elements A1, A2 and A3 are to be addressed at design and post-completion stages, to ensure that the development has been built to the intended standards. Post-completion resubmission of the original energy statement including energy performance calculations, informed by the relevant tests to systems and fabric, should be required as a condition as part of the planning application process. A5 and A7 compliance should also be demonstrated post-completion through planning condition.

13.8 As part of the requirement under A1 for a calculation of regulated carbon emissions, these calculations must reflect the same specification and performance that are submitted for Building Control. Unregulated energy use should be calculated using either SAP Appendix L, BREDEM, TM54, PHPP or any accurate predictive energy model, and shall be converted using SAP carbon factors.

13.9 When considering the energy efficiency requirements under A2, 'Energy efficiency' includes any feature that reduces the energy demand of a building compared to the equivalent feature specified in the Part L notional dwelling, regardless of whether the energy supply is conventional or renewable. This includes not only fabric, lighting, other efficient equipment and heat-recovery, but also heat pumps or any other heating system more efficient than the notional building heating system specified in Part L. Renewable energy generation is not an energy efficiency feature.

13.10 Policy element A3 sets out that subsequent to energy efficiency measures under A2, further reduction to net zero emissions is to be achieved through renewable energy generation. Where the applicant seeks flexibility in policy compliance on the basis of feasibility or viability, this claim will need to be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the council with reference to site-specific and use-specific factors, and, if the council deems it necessary, an open-book viability/cost assessment. Where a building in a multi-building development cannot individually achieve the requirements of A3, this shortfall is to be made up across other units on-site before offsetting (A4) is considered.

13.11 Where offsetting is required, the Section 106 financial contribution should reflect 30 years of the building operation. The price per tonne of carbon will be £256 or the latest year's central value set by the Treasury Green Book Valuation of Energy and Carbon at the time of application, whichever is higher. The calculation can include the nationally projected electrical grid decarbonisation across that 30-year period from the date of application. Grid decarbonisation figures are to reflect those found in the Treasury Green Book or future national equivalent. Carbon offsetting projects delivered through this policy could include but are not limited to: offsite renewable energy generation; retrofitting in existing buildings; large-scale tree planting. Projects will be delivered within South Staffordshire wherever possible but could include neighbouring authorities and cross-border initiatives where there is a benefit to doing so (e.g. deliverability; economies of scale; social benefits). The council will prepare and maintain supplementary planning guidance setting out how contributions to the Carbon Offset Fund will be utilised to enable net-zero carbon, and how the council's discretion will be exercised with regards to assessing the acceptability of any alternative off-site offsetting solutions that may be proposed by developers. This will include a list of projects to be funded and regularly reviewed in line with the council's Climate Emergency Action Programme to ensure that there is transparency throughout the process.

13.12 Under policy element A6, Smart energy systems may include any combination of smart local grids, energy sharing, energy storage, demand-side response. The purpose is to optimise on-site or local consumption of the renewable energy that is generated by the site. Where appropriate, proposals should demonstrate that they have integrated such smart energy system features to optimise these carbon- and energy-saving benefits and minimise the need for grid reinforcements.

New build non-residential development

Policy NB6B: New build non-residential development (operational energy)

B1. BREEAM

Major non-residential development is to demonstrate compliance with the most recent applicable BREEAM Excellent standard. BREEAM Outstanding should be targeted and the proposal will be afforded weight in favour where this is achieved.

Maximum credits under BREEAM criteria Ene01 should be achieved.

B2. Energy efficiency

New non-residential development proposals are expected to achieve a 15% improvement in Part L 2021 TER through energy efficiency features unless demonstrated unfeasible or unviable to the satisfaction of the council with references to site-specific and/or use-class specific characteristics. Where this target is not met, applications must demonstrate that energy efficiency measures (and TER reductions from these) have been pursued to the greatest extent feasible and viable, in comparison to the notional standards set by Building Regulations Part L. This is to be demonstrated using the latest non-residential National Calculation Methodology (currently SBEM).

Additionally, proposals are encouraged to meet the following targets:

  • Warehouses: ≤ 35 kWh/m2/year total energy use
  • Offices: ≤ 55 kWh/m2/year total energy use
  • Schools: ≤ 55 kWh/m2/year total energy use
  • Retail: ≤ 35 kWh/m2/year total energy use
  • Other building types: 30 kWh/m2/year regulated energy uses
  • All typologies: Space heat demand: ≤15kWh/m2/year.

Where accurate energy modelling (PHPP, CIBSE TM54 or equivalent subject to council approval) demonstrates that the proposal will achieve the relevant one of the above optional targets or Passivhaus certification, this benefit will be afforded weight in favour of the proposal and it will not be necessary to also submit evidence of the 15% TER reduction cited above.

B3. On-site renewable energy

Non-residential development must demonstrate the fullest feasible and viable use of on-site renewable energy generation and/or connection to local renewable and low carbon energy network, with the aim to annually match operational energy use.

All non-residential buildings are encouraged to demonstrate that the amount of on-site renewable energy generation equates to ≥120 kWh/m2projected building footprint/year. Where this is fulfilled, the sustainability benefit of this will be recognised and afforded weight in favour of the proposal. Large-scale development (5000m2 non-residential floorspace or more) should demonstrate that opportunities for on-site renewable energy infrastructure (on-site but not on or attached to individual buildings), such as solar PV canopies on car parks, have been explored.

In new developments, the use of fossil fuels and connection to the gas grid will not be considered acceptable.

B4. Reduced performance gap

Proposals are encouraged to take the following steps, and planning decisions will recognise the sustainability benefits where these are demonstrated to have been fulfilled:

Produce accurate energy use predictions using Passivhaus Planning Package, CIBSE TM54, or other method demonstrably proven to produce accurate predictions of total in-use energy (subject to local authority approval of the method).

Implement an assured performance process throughout design and construction to ensure operational energy in practice performs to predicted levels at the design stage.

B5. Smart energy systems

Proposals should demonstrate how they have considered the difference (in scale and time) of renewable energy generation and the on-site energy demand, with a view to maximising on-site consumption of energy generated on site and minimising the need for wider grid infrastructure reinforcement.

Where the on-site renewable energy generation peak is not expected to coincide with sufficient energy demand, resulting in a need to export or waste significant amounts of energy, proposals should demonstrate how they have explored scope for (and where appropriate implemented) energy storage and/or smart distribution systems.

B6. Post-occupancy evaluation

Large-scale development (5,000m2 floor space or more) should monitor and report total energy use and renewable energy generation values on an annual basis for 5 years from first occupation. An outline plan for the implementation of this should be submitted with the application. Monitored data are to be reported to the local planning authority.

Development proposals should be consistent with other Local Plan policies.

13.13 The principal requirement on Policy NB6B is for non-residential development to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification which is something that many existing non-residential developments in the district are already achieving. To achieve BREEAM Excellent and maximise credits under BREEAM criteria Ene01: reduction of energy use and carbon emissions, will likely be achieved through energy efficiency measures. As such, these measures will contribute towards meeting both policy elements B1 and B2. Further measures set out in the policy mirror those requirements for residential developments including maximising opportunities for energy generation and energy storage and/or smart distribution systems.

13.14 B1 – B6 are to be demonstrated at the planning application stage through the submission of an energy statement (or suitably detailed energy chapter within a wider sustainability statement), alongside associated output reports from the relevant energy modelling software in the case of B2-B3. Policy element B1 – B4 are to be addressed at design and post-completion stages, to ensure that the development has been built to intended standards. Post-completion resubmission of the original energy statement including energy performance calculations, informed by the relevant tests to systems and fabric, should be required as a condition as part of the planning application process. B5 and B6 compliance should also be demonstrated post-completion as a planning condition.

Embodied Carbon

Policy NB6C: Embodied carbon and waste

C1. Embodied carbon reporting

All new residential and non-residential developments are encouraged to complete a whole-life carbon assessment in accordance with RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment guidance.

C2. Limiting embodied carbon

Large-scale new residential (50 and above units) and non-residential (5000m2 commercial floorspace) development to limit embodied carbon (RICS modules A1 – A5) to 550 kgCO2/m2 GIA.

C3. Building end-of-life

All new buildings are to be designed to enable easy material re-use and disassembly, subsequently reducing the need for end-of-life demolition.

C4. Demolition audits

All major development that contains existing buildings/structures to carry out a pre-redevelopment and/or pre-demolition audit, following a well-established industry best practice method (e.g. BRE).

Development proposals should be consistent with other Local Plan policies.

13.15 The approach to assessing and limiting carbon in Policy NB6C recognises that embodied emissions are as significant a source of emissions as a building's energy needs. Information demonstrating compliance with C2 is to be submitted at the planning application stage and post-completion stage (submitted as a planning condition) to verify that as-built embodied carbon quantities remain compliant. Compliance with C1, C2 and C3 are to be demonstrated within an energy statement. If applicable, output reports for C4 should be submitted alongside an energy statement.

13.16 Further guidance on how to achieve compliance with this policy and the operation of any carbon offsetting fund will be set out in a Sustainable Construction and Climate Change SPD.

Key Evidence

  •  Staffordshire Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation - Baseline
  •  Staffordshire Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation - Final Report
  •  Water Cycle Study 2020
  •  Sustainable Construction Policy NB6 review (2023)
  •  Sustainable Construction Policy NB6 review - addendum (2024)

Implementation

Local/national Funding

Partnerships

Section 106/278

Development Management

Supplementary Planning Document

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Managing flood risk, sustainable drainage systems & water quality

13.17 The Environment Agency retains a strategic overview of flood risk management relating to main rivers and is a statutory consultee for development within Floodzones 2 and 3 as well as development within the riverbed or within 20m of a main river.

13.18 Flood risk arises from several sources; River Flooding (fluvial), Surface Water, groundwater, sewers and where ordinary watercourses become overwhelmed. These sources have been examined in the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) which informs this plan. Developers should refer to the SFRA which preparing proposals and their approach should reflect and take into account its contents.

13.19 The NPPF requires the Local Plan to reduce and manage flood risk by firstly assessing that risk and applying the sequential test, to allocating or developing land to avoid locating development in areas of higher risk and where that is not possible managing and mitigating that risk taking into account the vulnerability of site users.

13.20 Any proposed development within 8m of a main river watercourse will require an environmental permit from the Environment Agency, and any development that could impact the flow within an ordinary watercourse will require consent from Staffordshire County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA).

13.21 Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are designed to reduce the potential impact of surface water drainage discharges from both new and existing developments. SuDS aim to replicate natural systems of surface water runoff through collection, storage and cleaning before releasing water slowly and reducing the possible risk of flooding. Existing conventional drainage systems can bring about rapid runoff which may result in flooding, pollution and potential contamination of groundwater sources. Climate change is expected to result in more episodes of shorter rainfall duration and greater water volume for which some existing infrastructure is likely to be inadequate. Examples of the type of system that can be provided for large-scale developments are reed beds and other wetland habitats that collect, store and improve water quality along with providing a habitat for wildlife. For smaller developments SuDS might include green roofs or rainwater harvesting techniques.

13.22 SuDS potentially have such an important influence on the layout of new development schemes that early engagement with the LLFA, Local Planning Authority and other relevant authorities are considered crucial to their success.

13.23 In the site-by-site consideration of land that can be counted towards open space, quite often SuDS features e.g. ditches or steep sided open water retention ponds, cannot be included as being useable open space for public use. Where for example, such features have steep sides, or are likely to be soggy on a regular basis or for long time periods their function as public open space may be compromised. There may be instances where public use of open spaces would harm the effective functioning of the SuDS and where maintenance requirements would necessitate a lack of public access e.g. land being fenced off, it should not be classed as public open space. Where there is a clear conflict between both roles, SuDS should not be counted as open space provision.

13.24 The protection of groundwater is one of the important considerations in dealing with contaminated sites. The Local Planning Authority have a duty to maintain and protect the quality and quantity of groundwater resources for current and future abstraction, for dependent ecosystems and indirect uses.

Policy NB7: Managing flood risk, Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) & water quality

1. Managing flood risk

New development shall be located on Flood Zone 1 or areas with the lowest probability of flooding, taking climate change into account, and will not increase flood risk elsewhere. Any proposals for new development (except water compatible uses) within Flood Zones 2 and 3 will be required to provide sufficient evidence for the council to assess whether the requirements of the sequential test and exception test have been satisfied, taking climate change into account. Where development meets the sequential test in an area of higher flood risk, it must be designed to be flood resilient and safe for its users for the lifetime of the development, taking climate change and the vulnerability of any residents or users into account.

For developments within Flood Zones 2 and 3, and for developments elsewhere involving sites of 1ha or more, development proposals must be accompanied by a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment which meets the requirements of the NPPF and Planning Practice Guidance. Flood Risk Assessments submitted must take into account an assessment of flood risk across the life of the development taking climate change into account in accordance with the latest Environment Agency guidance.

All more Vulnerable and Highly Vulnerable development within Flood Zone 2 and 3 should set finished floor levels 600mm above the known or modelled at 1% and 3.3% annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood level, including an allowance for climate change in accordance with the latest National guidance. All new development in Flood Zones 2 and 3 should not adversely affect flood routing or result in a net loss of flood storage capacity that would increase flood risk elsewhere.

For developments located in areas at risk of fluvial flooding, safe access/egress must be provided in the form of a safe dry route for people as a minimum and vehicles wherever possible.

Developments should, where possible naturalise urban watercourses (by reinstating a natural, sinuous river channel and restoring the functional floodplain) and open up underground culverts, to provide biodiversity net gain as well as amenity improvements. Development should not take place over or within 8m of culverted watercourses.

Where it is not always possible to direct development to sites with the lowest probability of flooding, the development should seek to minimise risk to the site and make the development resistant to any residual risk and make the development flood resilient. Opportunities should also be sought to reduce the overall level of flood risk through the layout and form of development. Development should be designed to be safe throughout its lifetime, taking account of the potential impacts of climate change. Provision for emergency access and egress must also be included.

All developments should seek to provide wider betterment by demonstrating in site-specific flood risk assessments and surface water drainage strategies (where required) what measures can be put in place to contribute to a reduction in overall flood risk downstream. This may be by provision of additional storage on site e.g. through oversized SuDS, natural flood management techniques, green infrastructure and green-blue corridors and / or by providing a partnership funding contribution towards wider community schemes. The developer should consult with the relevant authority at the earliest opportunity

For all developments (excluding minor developments and change of use) proposed in Flood Zone 2 or 3, a Flood Warning and Evacuation Plan should be prepared.

Where the development site would benefit from the construction of Flood Management Infrastructure such as Flood Alleviation Schemes, appropriate financial contributions will be sought.

2. Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)

All new major development or developments involving large areas of hard standing (e.g. car parks) will incorporate SuDS appropriate to the nature of the site. Such systems shall provide optimum water runoff rates and volumes taking into account relevant local or national standards and the impact of the Water Framework Directive on flood risk issues, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that they are impracticable.

Sustainable drainage systems will be expected to reflect the design requirements and drainage hierarchy set out in the Staffordshire County Council Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Handbook - February 2017, or subsequent updates.

SuDS design should be an integral part of the design and clear details of proposed SuDS together with how they will be managed and maintained will be required as part of any planning application.

Only proposals which clearly demonstrate that a satisfactory SuDS layout with appropriate maintenance is possible, or compelling justification as to why SuDS should not be incorporated into a scheme, or are unviable, are likely to be successful. SuDS systems should be designed to ensure that it can be accessed for maintenance and operation requirements and that ongoing maintenance costs are economically proportionate.

The dual use of land for SuDS and Open Space can be supported where neither use is compromised by the other. It may be supported in circumstances where land is safely usable by the public as open space and where SuDS will contribute towards an attractive and well landscaped environment where use as open space does not compromise the efficient and effective functioning of the SuDS in the short or longer term.

Discharge should not be made into the combined sewer system and early engagement by the developer with Severn Trent Water Ltd will be required to ensure sustainably drained development.

3. Water quality

Development should not adversely affect the quality or quantity of water, either directly through pollution of surface or ground water, or indirectly through the treatments of wastewater.

In order to protect and enhance water quality, all development proposals must demonstrate all of the following:

  1. There are adequate water supply, sewerage and land drainage systems (including water sources, water and wastewater infrastructure) to serve the whole development, or an agreement with the relevant service provider to ensure the provision of the necessary infrastructure prior to the occupation of the development. Where development is being phased, each phase must demonstrate sufficient water supply and wastewater conveyance, treatment and discharge capacity.
     
  2. The quality of ground, surface or water bodies will not be harmed, and opportunities have been explored and taken for improvements to water quality, including denaturalisation of river morphology, and ecology.
     
  3. Appropriate consideration is given to sources of pollution, and appropriate SuDS measures incorporated to protect water quality from polluted surface water runoff.

Foul drainage to a public sewer should be provided wherever possible, but where it is demonstrated that it is not feasible, alternative facilities must not pose unacceptable risk to water quality or quantity.

Development proposals should be consistent with other Local Plan policies.

Key Evidence

  •  Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1
  •  Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2

Implementation

Local/national Funding

Development Management

Partners

Section 106 agreement

Supplementary Planning Document

Yes

Yes

Yes

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