Policy CC/WE: Water efficiency in new developments

The

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Integrated Water Management Study (2021) has shown that the current level of water abstraction from the chalk aquifer is widely believed to be unsustainable, with potential to cause environmental damage, unless abstraction rates are reduced significantly to safeguard natural river flow.  Whilst water company plans have taken account of planned growth in the existing local plans, there is no environmental capacity for additional development in the new

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

to be supplied by water by increased abstraction from the chalk aquifer.  Future water demand and supply will need to be balanced in other ways, such as through reduced usage, reduced leakage, import of water /licence trading between water companies and the development of new reservoirs at the regional scale. Water Resources East is coordinating these regional efforts and producing a regional plan for water. 

Many of these solutions are outside the control of the

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

, but one way in which the

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

can reduce the demand for water is by requiring high levels of water efficiency in all new developments.  The current

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

policies require 110 litres/person/day, which is the lower optional requirement allowed by

The Building Regulations 2010 cover the construction and extension of buildings, providing the minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building. Building regulations approval is different from planning permission and you might need both for your project.

.  It is proposed to go further than that and include a policy requiring 80 litres/person/day in all new housing development. This is the equivalent of the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5/6 (now withdrawn) and which was the design standard for the University’s development at Eddington in North West Cambridge.  An equally water efficient level is proposed for non-residential developments of full credits for category Wat 01 of BREEAM (the current level in Cambridge

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

policy). 

The Integrated Water Management Study (IWMS) has shown that 80 litres/person/day is achievable by making full use of water efficient fixtures and fittings, and also water re-use measures on site including surface water and rainwater harvesting, and grey water recycling.  It also shows that the cost effectiveness improves with the scale of the project, and that a site-wide system is preferable to smaller installations. 

A standard of 80 l/p/d goes beyond what Local Authorities are currently able to require (as set out in the Deregulation Act 2015), but the Councils consider that there is a strong case for greater water efficiency in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

based on the strong evidence provided by the Integrated Water Management Study.  Increased standards of water efficiency for

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

are also supported in principle by Cambridge Water, Water Resources East, and the Environment Agency.   

The Shared regional principles for protecting, restoring and enhancing the environment in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc are clear that they will encourage local partners to exceed minimum standards required by building regulations on issues such as water consumption, and that they will be working with Government on this issue. 

Feedback received during the First Conversation consultation expressed concern about the level for water abstraction from the chalk aquifer south of Cambridge, and that water should be sourced more sustainably. We should use water resources efficiently and include more ambitious water consumption targets.  There were suggestions of 75 and 80 litres per person per day. There was support for rainwater harvesting and grey water use in new development, and some suggestions that this should be mandatory.

For residential: 

• No policy – rely on standard

  The Building Regulations 2010 cover the construction and extension of buildings, providing the minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building. Building regulations approval is different from planning permission and you might need both for your project.

   (125 litres per person per day) - Not considered a reasonable alternative as it would not respond to the level of water stress in the area. 

• Implement the Building Regulations alternative standard (the current policy of 110 litres/person/day) - This is not the preferred approach as whilst this does seek to reduce water use, the level of reduction is not sufficient to respond to the pressure on water resources in the area. 

For non-residential: 

• No policy – there is currently no standard in

  The Building Regulations 2010 cover the construction and extension of buildings, providing the minimum standards for design, construction and alterations to virtually every building. Building regulations approval is different from planning permission and you might need both for your project.

  for water efficiency in non-residential developments - Not considered a reasonable alternative as it would not respond to the level of water stress in the area. 

• Require a minimum water efficiency standard of 2 credits for category Wat 01 of BREEAM unless demonstrated not practicable (current policy in the adopted South Cambridgeshire

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  , 2018) -  This is not the preferred approach as whilst this does seek to reduce water use, the level of reduction is not sufficient to respond to the pressure on water resources in the area. 

• Greater Cambridge 

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  : Topic paper 2: Climate Change 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Integrated Water Management Study (2021) 

South Cambridgeshire

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 

• Policy CC/4: Water Efficiency 

Cambridge

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 

• Policy 28: Carbon reduction, community energy networks, sustainable design and construction, and water use 

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.