No Water For New Housing?

Water scarcity is resulting in planning applications not being consented in Cambridgeshire. With the majority of England being defined by the Environment Agency as seriously water stressed (see image), and only 1 new reservoir under construction (near Portsmouth) this problem may spread.

There is a solution, which is to demonstrate that new development will be water neutral – this can be achieved through a combination of reduced usage in new homes (e.g. <85L/pers/day) and offsetting new usage by making improvements in existing homes or buildings within the water catchment area.

More reservoirs are planned, but completion will be many years away.