Planning Minister Greg Barker presented the Coalition’s planning reforms to the House of Commons today, with a focus on sustainable development.
The new 50 page NPPF, which is intended to deliver a new, simplified planning framework, replaces over 1,300 pages of inherited policy in 44 separate documents and is intended to deliver on the Coalition Agreement's commitment to "publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development and setting out national economic, environmental and social priorities" by April 2012.
Water supply, flood risk and water and wastewater infrastructure are explicitly identified as issues which must be considered and taken into account in any planning decision-making process. The Plan states that planning should “support the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate, taking full account of flood risk and coastal change, and encourage the reuse of existing resources, including conversion of existing buildings, and encourage the use of renewable resources (for example, by the development of renewable energy).
Flood risk is addressed in some detail - under the heading of ‘Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change’ , the Plan states:
“Local planning authorities should adopt proactive strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change taking full account of flood risk, coastal change and water supply and demand considerations.”
“Inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, but where development is necessary, making it safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere."
Local Plans should be supported by Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and develop policies to manage flood risk from all sources, taking account of advice from the Environment Agency and other relevant flood risk management bodies, such as lead local flood authorities and internal drainage boards.”
New development is to be steered towards area of low risk as well as including extensive consultations with the relevant authorities and agencies. The plan also makes specific reference to the need to adopt Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems where necessary. The Floods and Water Management Act 2010 established a Sustainable Drainage Systems Approving Body in unitary or county councils. This body must approve drainage systems in new developments and re-developments before construction begins.
Surprisingly however, the Plan appears to address water resource issues in considerably less detail at a time when drought, particularly, in water-stressed Southern England is a major and ongoing concern. Advice to local planning authorities is confined to a single paragraph which states that they should include in any plans the policies to deliver “the provision of infrastructure for transport, telecommunications, waste management, water supply, wastewater, flood risk and coastal change management, and the provision of minerals and energy (including heat)” and “work with other authorities and providers to assess the quality and capacity of infrastructure for water supply and wastewater and its treatment.”
With Southern England likely to be the target of considerable economic and population growth, how this will play out with the water companies faced with meeting demands for ever-more water and wastewater resources remains to be seen.
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