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Housing Development Planning: Water Companies
12 March 2025
Lead MP
Helen Morgan
North Shropshire
LD
Responding Minister
Matthew Pennycook
Tags
Economy
Word Count: 14516
Other Contributors: 22
At a Glance
Helen Morgan raised concerns about housing development planning: water companies in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Helen Morgan asks that water companies be made statutory consultees in the planning process to ensure sewage infrastructure keeps pace with housing developments, preventing future flooding and spills of raw sewage.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
During Helen Morgan's time as MP for North Shropshire, there have been multiple incidents where constituents have experienced sewage backing up into their homes and gardens due to inadequate drainage infrastructure. One village in her constituency has seen extensive development leading to sewerage network failure during heavy rain.
Adrian Ramsay
Green
Waveney Valley
Adrian Ramsay raises the issue of a need for stronger regulatory systems for fresh water supply, highlighting challenges in managing both too much and too little water at different times of the year.
Mid Sussex
Described a situation where Southern Water failed to carry out £2 million of improvements as part of a section 106 agreement, highlighting difficulties for councils in justifying development when infrastructure fails.
Ben Maguire
LD
North Cornwall
In his constituency, South West Water promised residents proper sewage treatment but failed to deliver, leaving them with raw sewage issues. Ben Maguire agrees that water companies must be held accountable to ensure infrastructure is in place before homes are built.
Dan Aldridge
Lab
Weston-super-Mare
Dan Aldridge speaks on the issue of irresponsible water companies and failing regulation causing delays in necessary planning applications, underserving local communities. He calls for a more proactive approach to address such issues. Discusses the impact of austerity cuts on rhyne management in coastal communities and supports increased investment in flood defence work.
David Reed
Con
Waveney
Asked if the Department would make water companies statutory consultees in the planning process.
Al Pinkerton
LD
Surrey Heath
Asked Jess Brown-Fuller about sewage spills in Surrey Heath and agreed that water companies should be included as strategic partners in development, urging for tougher regulation to ensure the delivery of necessary infrastructure.
West Dorset
Water companies are failing to maintain infrastructure, leading to sewage pollution and damaging the local economy. In West Dorset alone, there were over 4,100 sewage spills in 2023. The Poole catchment area has suffered from nitrogen excess, reducing biodiversity.
Gideon Amos
LD
Taunton and Wellington
Calls for more housing but with necessary infrastructure, urging the government to set a target of 150,000 homes for social rent per year. Discusses water infrastructure challenges due to under-investment by private companies, exacerbated by climate change.
Epsom and Ewell
Agrees with Helen Morgan on the necessity of making water companies statutory consultees to prevent further exacerbation of sewage infrastructure issues due to new developments.
Helen Morgan
Lab
Pontypridd
Thanks everyone for contributions; acknowledges cross-party agreement on issues like local drainage capacity and appropriate planning conditions. Asks the Minister to consider the adoption of schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act.
Chichester
Discussed the challenges of overwhelmed waste water treatment works and highlighted a constituent's experience with sewage rising in her toilet due to new developments, emphasizing the need for water companies to be treated as strategic partners.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He provided a local perspective from Northern Ireland, discussing the importance of skilled workers and the management of water infrastructure by Northern Ireland Water. He also raised concerns about flooding and environmental regulations.
Greenwich and Woolwich
The Chancellor has imposed a moratorium on new statutory consultees, citing ineffective operation of the system. Emphasises challenges in maintaining water quality due to pollution, climate change, and unsustainable practices.
Mike Martin
LD
Tunbridge Wells
Asked if the Government should require all unadopted watercourses to be adopted by statute or law, ensuring accountability and addressing historical sewers without immediate developers.
Bayo Alaba
Lab
Southend East and Rochford
Asked what the Government's reforms will do to encourage water companies to be involved in planning and infrastructure building.
Olly Glover
LD
Didcot and Wantage
In Didcot during the construction of Great Western Park, major sewage issues arose due to inadequate capacity before significant housing growth. In East Hanney and East Challow, residents face unresolved drainage and sewerage problems with no clear responsibility for remedial work.
Paul Holmes
Con
Hamble Valley
Highlighted issues in his constituency where housing developments lack proper sewer and drainage infrastructure, affecting over 3,000 homes. Discussed concerns about water companies' ability to influence the planning process.
Honiton and Sidmouth
Shared a case study from Feniton where sewage backing up into homes was visible evidence of poor infrastructure planning by the water company. Emphasised that better involvement of water companies in early planning stages could prevent such issues.
Richard Fuller
Con
North Bedfordshire
Inquired about making water companies statutory consultees in local plans and suggested an escrow of funds for long-term issues rather than individual household liability.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Describes a situation in her constituency where new housing developments pose environmental risks to an already flood-prone village. She agrees that water companies must be involved in the planning process.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Supports the need for better regulation, suggesting a single clean water authority to enforce standards on water companies that currently evade regulatory requirements.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
She expressed disappointment over the removal of statutory consultees and called for water companies to be required as statutory consultees to address capacity issues in sewerage systems.
Government Response
Matthew Pennycook
The Minister for Housing and Planning
Government Response
Congratulates the hon. Member for North Shropshire on securing the debate and outlines that the Government are committed to sustainable development, including appropriate water infrastructure. Acknowledges concerns raised about sustainable drainage systems and mentions ongoing exploration of whether more needs to be done through planning policy or by commencing schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Stated that adding water companies as statutory consultees is not seen as a solution to current issues. The Government aims to reform the statutory consultee system to ensure effective operation through limiting their scope and removing unnecessary ones.
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Assessment & feedback
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.