Policy MP4: Agricultural or potable water reservoirs

Comment

Representation ID: 99284

Received: 14/12/2022

Respondent: Anglian Water

We welcome reference to Anglian Water's Water Resource Management Plan in the supporting text to provide context to Policy MP4.
Water Resource Management Plans play a crucial role in securing the public water supply for the region. The plan identifies the investment required to secure public water supply for the region whilst protecting and enhancing the environment. This is then projected into water company business plans. Every five years we develop our Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) which sets out how we will manage the water supplies in our region to meet current and future needs over a minimum of 25 years. Our current Plan, published in 2019, covers the period from 2020-2045. We are now developing our next Plan (WRMP24) for the period 2025 - 2050.
The proposed strategic reservoir options in South Lincolnshire and The Fens are nationally strategic infrastructure and have been identified as strategic supply side options for addressing future water demand in the Anglian Water region due to population growth, climate change impacts and protecting the environment.
As nationally strategic infrastructure projects (NSIPs), these will be submitted as Development Consent Order applications to the Planning Inspectorate. An Examining Authority appointed by the Secretary of State and supported by the Planning Inspectorate examines the application and will make a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, who will make the decision on whether to grant or to refuse development consent. In such cases the Local Authority will not be the decision-maker but will provide a statutory local perspective throughout the process and be responsible for discharging the requirements associated with an NSIP in their area if development consent is granted.