Policy information sourced from The Waltham Forest Local Plan Development Management Policies

DM34 Water

Water Supply and Waste Water Infrastructure

A) Development proposals should protect existing water and sewerage infrastructure. In accordance with DM17F (i), where development increases the demand for off-site service infrastructure, it must be demonstrated that sufficient capacity already exists, or that extra capacity will be provided.

B) The development or expansion of water supply or waste water facilities will normally be permitted. Such development or expansion works will be expected to demonstrate that the need for the facilities significantly outweighs any adverse land use or environmental impact and that any such adverse impact is minimised.

Water Efficiency

C) Development proposals should:

  • implement water efficiency measures to achieve usage of less than or equal to 105 litres/person/day for residential developments.
  • incorporate water saving measures and equipment for any new development of greater than 100sqm.

These requirements can be met through the capture and re-use of surface, grey water and rainwater. Where this is not practicable or feasible, justification must be provided. Where an Energy Assessment is required under DM10, water conservation measures which have a high operational energy demand must be included. Where retrofitting is undertaken, it should be done with due consideration of the impact on the historic environment.

Managing Flood Risk

D) Flood risk should be managed by:

  • meeting the requirements of Core Strategy Policy CS4 (Minimising and Adapting to Climate Change);
  • submitting a site specific Flood Risk Assessment or drainage strategy at the planning application stage where required by national policy or for sites with a known risk of groundwater or surface water flooding, having regard to the Council’s Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and Surface Water Management Plan;
  • ensuring that development does not cause a reduction in the volume of floodplain storage or increase flood risk elsewhere;
  • achieving greenfield run-off rates through the maximisation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) where possible. Where SuDS cannot be implemented, due to land conditions or contamination, justification must be provided outlining the reasons and demonstrating alternative sustainable approaches to the management of surface water;
  • submitting a maintenance and management plan for all drainage systems, including SuDS;
  • undertaking land swaps in suitable locations to relocate more vulnerable uses and enable the floodplain to be used as storage;
  • using and retaining permeable materials in areas of hardstanding (including domestic gardens), unless strong justification suggests otherwise and mitigation measures are provided;
  • providing mitigation measures where there are residual impacts; and
  • where necessary, providing new or upgraded infrastructure and/or financial contributions towards measures to reduce and mitigate against flood risk, which may include protecting existing flood defences.

Waterways

E) Development affecting waterways should demonstrate that:

  • there will be no adverse impacts on the water environment, species or habitats and that enhancement measures have been incorporated wherever possible;
  • Flood Defence Consent is obtained from the Environment Agency for works in, under, over and adjacent to watercourses;
  • the use by freight transport is not inhibited and where possible increased;
  • buffer zones of at least 8m for main rivers and 5m for ordinary water courses are established and left free of any permanent structures. Where it is not possible to do so, strong justification should be provided. Where provided, buffer zones should be carefully integrated with new developments so they do not create dead spaces.

For more information please see the Local Plan Development Management Policies