CPRE Sussex asks Sussex MPs to back ‘sewerage before development’ campaign

CPRE Sussex has written to MPs across the county asking them to back its ‘sewerage before development’ campaign.

Tankers removing sewage in Arun District © P. Ayling

The letter highlights the results of a recent survey by the charity which found 4 in 5 councils across the county are affected by diffuse sewage flooding with waste bubbling up into homes, gardens and streets.

It calls on MPs to help ensure efforts to address housing affordability do not make sewage spills worse.

CPRE Sussex director Paul Steedman said: “There is a significant risk that, without careful coordination, the government’s desire to ‘get Britain building’ will make the situation worse.

“Uncontrolled development that runs ahead of upgrades to our sewerage system could mean forcing more human waste into a system that is already struggling. We need to ensure our sewers and wastewater treatment works are upgraded ahead of loads more loos being connected – not the other way around.”

CPRE Sussex is calling for sewerage infrastructure to be in place before new housing developments are allowed to proceed. This could be achieved by using pre-commencement conditions, also known as Grampian conditions.

The letter, sent to MPs this week, asks them to write to the government, requesting changes in national planning policy to make this the normal approach, as well as taking up the matter with local councils, the Environment Agency and Southern Water.

Results from CPRE Sussex survey

Results from our survey of 67* parish and town councils across Sussex:

• 78% suffer from diffuse sewage flooding in their area, variously impacting on homes, roads, footpaths, green spaces and environmental waters;
• Diffuse sewage flooding occurs weekly to monthly in 34% of local councils, additional to the reported “spills” at designated storm sewage overflows;
• 15% suffer from widespread sewage flooding, as opposed to more isolated events;
• 63% believe that the sewers in their area are hydraulically overloaded;
• Southern Water is only taking action to prevent sewage flooding in 32% of local council areas and only help to clear it up in 25% of local council areas;
• 65% believe that groundwater infiltrates the sewers in their area;
• 73% believe that surface water makes the problem worse;
• 69% of local councils are under development pressure and 86% believe that the sewers in their area will not cope with additional sewage;
• 57% believe that pre-commencement conditions could strengthen planning in their area;
• 39% did not know if pre-commencement conditions would help suggesting further explanation and guidance is needed.

*An earlier release of this data was based on responses from 58 councils. A further 9 councils subsequently submitted responses.

CPRE Sussex recommendations

Our recommendations for putting sewerage infrastructure in place before development:

1. Defra imposing a requirement on water companies to develop longer term sewerage and sewage treatment plans, to better control groundwater infiltration of sewers and surface water inundation of sewers; with such plans being prepared in liaison with the relevant local planning authorities, to ensure that local housing plans are properly aligned to water sector infrastructure planning.
2. The clear phasing of site allocations within Local Plans, tied to the delivery of the necessary upgrades to sewers and wastewater treatment works.
3. The use of pre-commencement conditions in the planning process (also known as “Grampian” conditions) requiring sewerage upgrades prior to construction or occupation.

Find out more about the ‘sewerage before development’ campaign here.