Water

Water supply in Greater Norwich is from groundwater sources and from a river intake from the Wensum. There has been significant recent investment in the river intake to protect water quality in this internationally designated chalk river habitat.

The Water Resources Management Plan⁸⁶ (WRMP) does not require additional spending on water supply infrastructure to serve growth in Greater Norwich. However, the WRMP includes new potable water transfers to be funded by Anglian Water through customer bills. Anglian Water would also expect developers to pay appropriate charges for the required connections to the water supply network. Investment is planned to transfer water from the Norwich and the Broads water resource zone (WRZ) to the neighbouring Happisburgh and Norfolk Rural North WRZs. As a result, the policy does not cover water supply infrastructure as investment is not required to support the growth promoted in this plan. The WRMP is reviewed on a continuous basis and a new plan will be prepared for 2024. AW are also preparing a Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan in partnership with stakeholders to inform the next 2024 business plan.

The strategic focus for water supplies throughout the Anglian Water area, which covers much of eastern England, is to promote demand management and leakage reduction, along with a strategic grid to serve other parts of East Anglia and Lincolnshire. This is in line with the pioneering long-term approach taken in Greater Norwich. Water efficiency is now required by the Norfolk Strategic Planning Framework for local plans across the county (see policy 2 of this plan). Water Resources East has recently been formed to co-ordinate between water companies and others involved with water resources. 

To address growth needs in Greater Norwich, AW⁸⁷ identifies the Yare Valley Sewer as one of the two strategic sewer investment requirements in its whole area. Increasing capacity at Whitlingham Water Recycling Centre (WRC) is also a strategic priority in AW’s plan. 

In line with the long-term approach taken in Greater Norwich, and as required by the NSPF and policy 2 of this plan, AW also promotes the use of sustainable drainage (SuDS) which have benefits to the environment and communities.

Smaller scale measures to address growth needs for Acle, Aylsham, Belaugh and Wymondham WRCs are planned through AW’s water recycling plan. These are to improve capacity and protect water quality and are referenced in appendix 1. Improved monitoring of foul flows within the network is also planned.

Funding for water infrastructure improvements is provided through developer charges directly for connections to water supply network and foul sewerage networks.  Taking account of the above evidence, the policy therefore commits the Greater Norwich authorities to lobbying for the timely delivery of improvements to the waste-water network by AW.

To ensure that development does not have a detrimental impact on the water environment, particularly in relation to water quality and the potential for impacts on the water-based sites protected under the Habitats Regulations Directive, major development will be dependent on the water infrastructure being capable of accommodating the development or being able to be made so.

The Greater Norwich Water Cycle Study⁸⁸ provides further information on these issues.

⁸⁶AW Water Resources Management Plan December 2019

⁸⁷Through the AW Water Recycling Long Term Plan (2019) which is available here

⁸⁸Available here