Rayner's housing target at risk from crumbling water system
Britain's crumbling water system has left Angela Rayner at risk of missing her own housebuilding targets as sewage networks struggle to cope with new developments.
Utility companies and local councils have put the Housing Secretary's ambitions in jeopardy as they struggle to connect new homes to creaking waste water infrastructure.
James Stevens, a director at the Home Builders Federation, said there is 'increasingly this question being raised by some councils and some water companies over whether they can provide the water infrastructure necessary to meet the Government's housing targets'.
In a letter to Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, the Home Builders Federation warned the situation left housebuilding plans 'at significant risk', adding: 'Confidence in the planning system will continue to erode, threatening future investment in land and subsequent housing supply.'
Ms Rayner said the UK must build 370,000 homes each year, with the Government aiming to complete 1.5m homes by the end of the parliament.
But water companies, which have a statutory duty to provide a connection for customers, have indicated they could delay developments with objections over the scale of sewage work required.
Anglian Water, which operates in the East of England, advised developers that it may object to several housing schemes until additional sewage capacity has been constructed.
A spokesman said: 'In order to ensure we're protecting the environment, we do need to take into account the capacity we have available in growing areas.
'In locations where additional homes would exceed existing capacity and be a risk to the environment, we may put an objection or condition to the planning application.'
Troubled operator Thames Water is objecting to new connections requested by Welwyn Hatfield borough council. The local authority has a target of constructing 834 homes each year.
However, councils have also opposed schemes over concerns about the scale of sewage connections.
Wealden Council denied planning permission for several residential schemes citing concerns about water capacity. This was despite reassurances by Southern Water that it can supply new developments in the area.
The local authority in East Sussex has delayed at least six housing developments over water supply concerns, totalling 819 homes. Wealden Council has a house building target of just over 1,400 homes a year.
The delays to residential schemes by the council come despite national planning policy stating that local planning authorities should not use sewage and water capacity concerns as a reason to block residential schemes.
Wealden district council spokesman said: 'It is our responsibility to ensure that these developments do not result in sewage spills into our environment or our communities.'
The authority in charge of house building in Cambridge City, which has a combined housing target with South Cambridgeshire of 2,309 new homes per year, said it had put 'significant focus' on resolving issues over sewage connections.
Greater Cambridge Shared Planning said that planning decisions 'can progress with the confidence that both water supply and treatment capacity is available to meet the needs of the area'.
The Government is currently carrying out a review into the water companies and their regulators which is due to be completed in June.
A government spokesman said: 'We are clear that all areas must play their part and help to deliver 1.5m homes as part of our Plan for Change.
'Development should not be blocked if the right water infrastructure is in place, and we expect councils and water companies to work together to ensure this is the case so we can turn the tide on the housing crisis we have inherited.'
A Thames Water spokesman said: 'We look at each development case by case and where needed will request that conditions are added to planning applications, so for example new homes are not occupied until the necessary upgrades to our water infrastructure have taken place.'
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