Southern Water may have to provide additional water or wastewater infrastructure to serve new and existing customers or meet stricter environmental standards. It is likely that there would be limited options with regard to location, as the infrastructure would need to connect into existing networks. Planning policies should therefore support proposals that come forward in order to deliver or maintain necessary infrastructure. We therefore request that the following wording is added to this policy, as explained further below:
New and improved utility infrastructure will be encouraged and supported in order to meet the identified needs of the community subject to other policies in the plan.
Further explanation and justification:
We could find no policy wording that specifically supported the general provision of new or improved utilities infrastructure. The NPPF (2023) paragraph 7 establishes that ‘supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner’ is key to achieving sustainable development, and although this is acknowledged in relation to developments, broader provision by utilities providers is also sometimes necessary. Also the National Planning Practice Guidance states that ‘Adequate water and wastewater infrastructure is needed to support sustainable development’.