brentwood.gov.uk

Comment

Representation ID: 5842

Received: 15/02/2015

Respondent: Thames Water

Agent: Savills UK

The key wastewater network issue will be to ensure that there is sufficient hydraulic capacity of the network to cater for the growth being proposed. Failure to align the delivery of development with the waste water network infrastructure required to support it could result in adverse impacts such as the sewer flooding or pollution of watercourses.
The need for any upgrades should be determined through drainage strategies and detailed discussions with the developer, where the point of connection to the existing network is appraised against the scale of development and its potential phasing.
Through appropriate infrastructure development plan policies drainage strategies and any subsequent necessary infrastructure network upgrades should be provided by either the developer or Thames Water, to ensure sufficient capacity is provided ahead of occupation, thus avoiding risk of sewer flooding. The timescales for providing network upgrades should not be underestimated with local upgrades taking 18 months to 3 years to deliver and strategic upgrades taking 3 to 5 years.

Generally speaking development sites of 20 units + would require further developer investigations to ensure network capacity exists without causing detriment to existing customers. Should there be insufficient capacity developers would need to demonstrate how necessary upgrades would be delivered ahead of occupation.

Where it is shown that sewerage network upgrades are required Thames Water would welcome the support of the local planning authority in attaching appropriately worded Grampian planning conditions to any approval to ensure that upgrades are completed ahead of occupation.