Policy information sourced from the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan
Policy 9 Water Resources and Infrastructure (Strategic Policy)
A. The borough’s water resources and supplies will be protected by preventing development that would pose a threat to the borough’s rivers, surface water and groundwater quality and quantity. This includes pollution caused by water run-off from developments into waterways
B. The development or expansion of water supply or wastewater facilities will normally be permitted, either where needed to serve existing or proposed new development, or in the interests of long-term water supply and waste water management, provided that the need for such facilities outweighs any adverse land use or environmental impact and that any such impact is minimised as far as possible.
Water quality
C. The Council expects development proposals to:
- protect the water quality of rivers and groundwater; where rivers have been classified by the Environment Agency as failing to meet ‘good’ status, any development affecting such rivers is encouraged to improve the water quality in these areas.
- seek to improve the water environment and ensure that adequate wastewater infrastructure capacity is provided;
- take action to minimise the potential for misconnections between foul and surface water networks.
- 4. demonstrate within a Construction Management Plan that there will be no potential contamination of surface or ground water (see Policy 53 ‘Local Environmental Impacts’).
Water and Sewage Infrastructure
D. New major residential and major non-residential development will need to provide information as part of a planning application that shows early engagement by the applicant with the sewerage and water supply network provider, to demonstrate the provider can meeting their duty to ensure there is adequate water supply, foul drainage and sewerage treatment capacity to serve the development.
E. Planning permission will only be granted for developments which increase demand for water services if there is:
- sufficient capacity already, or
- Extra capacity can be provided in time to serve the development, and will not adversely affect the environment and amenities of local residents
F. Any new water supply, sewerage or waste water treatment infrastructure must be in place prior to occupation of the development. Financial contributions may be required for new developments towards the provision of, or improvements to, such infrastructure.
For more information please see the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan