Archived press release

Water crisis must lead to rethink for SE housing plans

24 May 2006

Regional assembly to discuss water and housing

Plans to build over half a million homes in the South East must be urgently reviewed because of the impact that this will have on the region's diminishing water resources, Friends of the Earth said today. The call coincides with today's meeting (Wednesday 24 May) of the South East Regional Planning Committee[1] which will be discussing reports on water and housing.[2]

The South East is currently experiencing a drought, with most of the region under hosepipe bans, and a number of water companies applying for permits to abstract high levels of water from key rivers. Earlier this month Sutton and East Surrey Water Company banned all non-essential uses of water, preventing companies, including all those servicing Gatwick airport, from washing cars, windows etc.

However, if plans to build 578,000 new homes in the region over the next 20 years go ahead, this will put even more pressure on the region's water resources.

The South East Regional Planning Committee is discussing reports on water quality and water resources in relation to the housing growth figures in the South East Plan. The Regional Assembly believes that water resources can be managed despite the huge growth in new homes but they admit that reducing the amount of water used in existing homes, as well as minimising water-use in new homes is key to avoiding water scarcity.

Friends of the Earth's South East Regional Campaigns Coordinator, Brenda Pollack said:

"The South East is already facing a severe water shortage and building over half a million more homes in the region is likely to make this problem worse. Clearly tougher water efficiency standards are needed for new and existing homes. But the region's unsustainable house-building plans must also be reviewed to prevent disastrous impacts on our environment.

"Climate change is likely to impact even further on the region's water resources. The UK must do more to tackle climate change. This is why we want the Government to support a new law requiring annual reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The new law, part of Friends of the Earth's The Big Ask climate campaign, is already supported by 50 MPs across the South East, and 75 per cent of the public. We hope that all MPs in the region will now back the campaign. " [3]

Notes

1. The Regional Planning Committee is part of the Regional Assembly and is responsible for drafting the South East Plan which guides Local Authorities on local policies on housing, transport, waste, energy, water etc.

2. The full report(PDF)

Officers report to the Regional Planning Committee

Short summary of these reports

Sewage treatment Works study:
Report identifies 24 Sewage treatment works where "there should be a limit on the amount of additional housing that can be connected to the STW due to difficulty in meeting effluent standards using currently established technology"

Environment Agency and Assembly say further work needs doing to assess extent of need to upgrade or build new STWs. They are undertaking detailed studies in Aylesbury, Basingstoke and Crawley due to water quality concerns in these areas.

Water Resources study

EA and Assembly have looked at housing growth levels outlined in SE Plan and modelled impacts on water resources. They've assumed that 3/4 of deficits in water supply will come from new resource development and only a quarter from "demand management" ie reducing people's use of water.

Lists key sites needed for new or expanded reservoirs across the region

Upper Thames
Bewl
Broad Ok
Clay Hill
Havant Thicket
Darwell
Hardham

Points out that the twin track approach, of new infrastructure alongside demand management relies heavily on sustained behaviour change and strong regulatory and fiscal measures.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust