Policy information sourced from The London Plan 2021
SI 5 Water infrastructure
In order to minimise the use of mains water, water supplies and resources should be protected and conserved in a sustainable manner.
Development Plans should promote improvements to water supply infrastructure to contribute to security of supply. This should be done in a timely, efficient and sustainable manner taking energy consumption into account.
Development proposals should:
- through the use of Planning Conditions minimise the use of mains water in line with the Optional Requirement of the Building Regulations (residential development), achieving mains water consumption of 105 litres or less per head per day (excluding allowance of up to five litres for external water consumption)
- achieve at least the BREEAM excellent standard for the ‘Wat 01’ water category160 or equivalent (commercial development)
- incorporate measures such as smart metering, water saving and recycling measures, including retrofitting, to help to achieve lower water consumption rates and to maximise future-proofing.
In terms of water quality, Development Plans should:
- promote the protection and improvement of the water environment in line with the Thames River Basin Management Plan, and should take account of Catchment Plans
- support wastewater treatment infrastructure investment to accommodate London’s growth and climate change impacts. Such infrastructure should be constructed in a timely and sustainable manner taking account of new, smart technologies, intensification opportunities on existing sites, and energy implications. Boroughs should work with Thames Water in relation to local wastewater infrastructure requirements.
Development proposals should:
- 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.
Development Plans and proposals for strategically or locally defined growth locations with particular flood risk constraints or where there is insufficient water infrastructure capacity should be informed by Integrated Water Management Strategies at an early stage.
For more information please see The London Plan 2021