Wastewater Infrastructure and Environmental Protection in Planning Applications

That this House expresses concern about the potential impact of new developments on local water and drainage systems, particularly in areas with chalk streams, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and other protected habitats; notes that water companies often claim a site holds sufficient capacity despite local systems being under strain and environmental standards at risk; believes the current assessment process for wastewater capacity in planning applications lacks rigor and fails to account for long-term environmental costs; is disappointed that the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill fails to address this; urges the Government to include provision for sustainable drainage in future developments in the Bill by implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010; calls on the Government to require water companies to provide independent infrastructure capacity assessments that consider local environmental pressures; further urges the Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities to grant local authorities greater powers to commission independent assessments; and further calls for all new developments to align with the UK's clean river objectives and protection of vulnerable habitats.