Policy CC/WE: Water efficiency in new developments

Consultation is open from 3 August 2026 9:00am to 25 September 2026 5:00pm

1. All development must demonstrate highly water efficient design to minimise consumption of water and protect water resources in line with the following requirements:

a. For residential development of 100 or more dwellings, water usage of no more than 80 litres/person/day. To achieve this level, some form of water reuse or recycling will be necessary. Proposals that seek to deliver levels of water usage below this level are encouraged;

b. For residential development of less than 100 dwellings, water usage of 90 litres/person/day. Proposals that seek to deliver levels of water usage below this level are encouraged;

c. For non-residential development, a minimum of 4 credits for category Wat 01 of BREEAM, or an equivalent 60% reduction of water use unless demonstrated not practicable. Also, full credits for category Wat 02 and category Wat 03 of BREEAM;

d. In addition, for non-residential developments that use water as part of a commercial process(es), full credits for category Wat 04 and one credit for category Wat 05 of BREEAM. The achievement of the exemplary target for Wat 05 is encouraged;

e. Proposals for data centres should avoid water-based cooling, use closed-loop cooling systems and use additional water resources such as rainwater and grey water; and

f. Proposals involving the refurbishment or change of use of existing buildings should undertake retrofitting to increase water efficiency, aiming to achieve at least 90 litres/person/day and integrating water reuse where possible for residential development or following the BREEAM requirements in this policy for non-residential development where practicable.

2. Details of any water reuse or recycling system must be provided in the Sustainability Statement and include relevant drawings showing the location of infrastructure and details of how it will be managed and maintained. Further detail of the requirements are in the Sustainability Checklist.

3. Each individual dwelling, including flats within a larger building, must have its own smart water meter to enable the monitoring of water use.

4. All new dwellings with private outdoor amenity space should provide a water butt for collection of rainwater for outdoor irrigation. The use of rainwater should be prioritised for outdoor irrigation of shared amenity space/landscape areas in residential developments and non-residential developments.

5. Where Government policy or legislation relating to water efﬁciency is more stringent or at signiﬁcant variance with this policy in the future, the more stringent standard will be adopted when determining planning applications.

Supporting information

4.25. Greater Cambridge is one of the driest areas in the UK, and Cambridge Water’s supply zone is classiﬁed as an area of ‘serious water stress’ by the Environment Agency. Water is abstracted from the chalk aquifer, and this has been causing environmental problems. The level of abstraction is being reduced by the Environment Agency’s changes to licenses to prevent any further environmental deterioration and allow for the regeneration of the local area’s rare chalk streams.

4.26. Cambridge Water’s Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP24) sets out measures to reduce the demand for water by reducing leakage and the installation of smart meters and also sets out new sources of water supply (Strategic Resource Options) including a proposed pipeline that will bring in water from Grafham Water (anticipated by 2032) and the delivery of the new Fens Reservoir by 2036 (a joint scheme between Cambridge Water and Anglian Water). Due to the pressure on water resources in Greater Cambridge, a Water Scarcity Group has been established by the Government to tackle this issue.

4.27. For development needs to be met sustainably, it is vital that buildings are designed to be as water efﬁcient as possible. This includes installing ﬁxtures and ﬁttings that use water efﬁciently and introducing measures that recycle water. All development should reduce water use below current and future Building Regulations requirements through the use of water efﬁcient ﬁxtures and ﬁttings. Water recycling measures could range from individual property measures through to community-level infrastructure, and include systems that recycle rainwater, stormwater, greywater or foul water and use dual pipe systems for potable and non-potable water. The best approach will depend on site-speciﬁc circumstances but planning for these measures should be considered early in the design process so that holistic opportunities for integrated water management across a site are taken. Planning conditions will be used to secure the proper implementation, management and maintenance of water recycling systems.

4.28. High water efﬁciency is required for non-residential developments based on BREEAM standards. This includes standards for domestic uses within these premises (such as kitchens/toilets/internal watering of plants) and any process water such as for industrial, laboratory, or cooling processes.

4.29. To protect the water environment, Cambridge Water is applying an enhanced assessment of new connection requests from April 2025, particularly in the lead up to major new supply infrastructure in the early 2030’s. They also have an incentive scheme to promote water efﬁcient home building and offer discounts to developers based upon the amount of water consumption reduction. Early engagement with Cambridge Water on development proposals is therefore highly recommended.

4.30. For major developments applicants will be expected to provide details of how the proposed development will connect to the water supply infrastructure as part of a Utilities Statement in line with the requirements in Policy I/ID. For minor development planning applications, where required, details of a connection can be provided as part of a Sustainability Statement, a Design and Access Statement or a Planning Statement for the proposed development. For all developments evidence must be provided to show how the stated water efﬁciency levels can be achieved by the proposed development as part of a Sustainability Statement proportionate to the scale and type of development. Conditions may be applied seeking evidence of implementation and post occupancy water use.

Tell us what you think

For further guidance on how to submit comments, please see the Representation Guidance Note.

All comments must be received by 25 September 2026 at 5pm.