News

Lack of water could scupper East of England housing plan

16th February 2006

Government housing plans for the East of England suffered a major set-back on 15 February when experts told a public hearing that there was not enough water or sewage capacity to supply demand for proposed housing in the south of the region. The evidence backs concerns raised by Friends of the Earth that the proposed large scale development is simply not sustainable.

Experts from Thames Water told the public hearing taking place on the East of England Plan [1] that not only is no water available to supply the proposed new development around Harlow, but that there is currently no technological solution to the sewage problem and no funding.

The Government wants 478,000 new homes in the East of England and these proposals are now being considered as part of the region s draft spatial strategy.

Friends of the Earth East of England Regional Campaigns Coordinator Mary Edwards said: It has always been quite clear that these proposals do not make sense because of the demand they will create for water and for sewage treatment in this dry region. Now the experts have revealed the true extent of this problem and said no ready solution exists. This is what you get when you try to bend and twist the strategic planning process for political ends.

John Prescott decided where he wanted the housing to go in his Sustainable Communities Plan before he did his homework. Perhaps the East of England will now reconsider the Government s proposals or we will end up with one of the most disastrous developments since the war.

Mary Edwards added: Friends of the Earth supports the provision of decent housing for everyone, but it must be built to high environmental standards and in sustainable areas. You need to know that when you turn on the tap, water will come out of it. If John Prescott s department has made such a mistake for the Harlow area, we have to ask if they have made the same mistake on the other areas proposed for large scale development.

The hearing continues until 17 February.