Water supply has emerged as a key issue for stakeholders during this consultation. We have discussed this in our response to the ‘Vision and Development Strategy’ section. Relevant to the current section: improving water efficiency is vital but is highly unlikely to result in an overall reduction in water use in the face of the proposed levels of development. Our comments below must be taken in this context.
We welcome the ambitious target set for water efficiency and the incorporation into this policy of the findings of the Greater Cambridge Integrated Water Management Study (2021): water efficient fixtures and fittings, water reuse, surface water, greywater integrated on site. We look forward to further detail on how achievement of this target will be enforced and monitored.
We are not clear to what extent wastewater management falls within the remit of the Local Plan. However, sewage management, including separation of surface water drainage from sewers, is a critical element of sustainability for new developments and we would like to see more information on this, or signposting to where such information exists. Similarly, although it is stated that water supply is not within the remit, the importance of “making full use of water re-use measures on site including rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling” is acknowledged. Again we would like to see details of how this will be achieved. Ideally we feel that rainwater harvesting and grey water use in new developments should be mandatory and designed in from the start.