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House Building Plans Face Water Challenge In Dry Regions
Every new government in recent years has come into office pledging to build more new homes. But this is never simply a matter of waving some magic legislative wand and making thousands or even millions of new homes appear.
The practical challenges of building the new homes Britain needs are numerous and while some of these may be put down to ‘NIMBYism’, in some cases, there are some significant issues that cannot be ignored.
Many of these concerns relate to water. In some places, the issue is flood risk. But in others, especially in the south and east of England, the chief concern is a shortage of water, especially as the changing climate is expected to make what is already the driest part of Britain drier still.
Why Are There Concerns About A Planned Suffolk Development?
This concern has been highlighted by the challenge faced by developers proposing a 720-home scheme in Suffolk, adjacent to the town of Beccles and the village of Worlingham.
In its submission to planners at East Suffolk Council, Environment Agency planning advisor Emily Halliwell has highlighted how water-stressed the area is.
She wrote: “Essex Suffolk Water is heavily reliant on the success of demand management measures to maintain customer supplies until new strategic sustainable supplies of water can be developed.”
In classifying the area as one with high water stress, this indicates that water demand makes up a very high proportion of the water that can be sourced from available rainfall. That indicates there could be difficulties maintaining supply even now, let alone in the future.
The need to meet this challenge was acknowledged in the original planning documents by developer Larkfleet.
It stated: “Water use will increase because of the development; however, measures will be designed into the project so that water usage can be monitored and the use of water is minimised.”
With the plan for 720 homes being part of a two-stage scheme to build 1,250 homes in the vicinity, this is a challenge that needs to be met with some innovative methods of water conservation.
What Can Grey Water Recycling Offer?
One potential option could be grey water recycling.
This system collects rainwater and then reuses it in flush toilets, which make up around a third of household water use.
This system works by taking water used in baths, showers and sinks and, instead of letting it flow down the drain, storing it in a tank that can then be used to supply that water to the flush toilet, or for other purposes such as watering the garden.
A solution is certainly needed, for the problems faced in the drier southern part of the UK are not confined to Suffolk. Indeed, earlier this month, law firm Clarke Wilmott, which advises developers, warned that such issues are holding back housing developments.
Partner at the firm Nicola Sutton said: “This is one of the biggest challenges that developers and local authorities will face in the coming years,” adding that it “casts more doubt on the Government’s ability to deliver on its ambitious housebuilding targets.”
Among the issues cited by the firm is that of developments being held up are water neutrality rules, which require that new developments do not lead to an increase in demand on water supplies.
An example of this was an embargo placed on planned new developments in the Arun Valley in East Sussex, which was only recently lifted.
What Else Is Being Done To Tackle Water Stress?
Part of the solution may lie in producing more water from reservoirs. Anglian Water has long since acknowledged the need to increase capacity as the region gets drier and the population rises.
As well as proposals for two new reservoirs, the water company is pushing ahead with plans for two seawater desalination plants.
The government has also acknowledged the situation and is pushing for nine new reservoirs to be built, all in the Midlands, south and East of England, the first new reservoirs in 30 years.
Among these is the Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire, although plans had long been drawn up, passed and spades were in the ground by late 2024. It will help address the issue of water extraction from chalk streams, a globally rare habitat.
In doing so, Havant Thicket will be dealing with similar issues to those that held up the Arun Valley developments.
However, while all of these steps will go some way towards meeting growing water needs in a changing climate and rising population, more will need to be done to deal with the high projected population increase and growing need for more homes.
That is why it will be essential for grey water systems and other means of using water more efficiently to be incorporated into new housing developments in the years to come.