4.100

We look to the plan to facilitate the delivery of such an initiative, and those which may be similarly proposed elsewhere in the district, by providing supportive policies for necessary infrastructure, additional to Policy NE18 Source Protection Zones.

The Goodwood Estate has its own borehole water supply but suffers from potential water shortages due to a variable water table affected by climatic change. The Estate has embarked on an estate-wide study to improve water supply and distribution across its land holding and to remain ‘water neutral.’ We look to the plan to facilitate the delivery of such an initiative, and those which may be similarly proposed elsewhere in the district, by providing supportive policies for necessary infrastructure, additional to Policy NE18 Source Protection Zones.

In the north of the plan area, properties within Southern Water’s Sussex North Water Resource Zone (WRZ) are supplied with water from several sources including a groundwater abstraction near Pulborough which is currently subject to environmental investigations to ensure there is no adverse impact on environmentally designated sites in the Arun Valley. This may impact on the available supply and alternative sources may need to be considered by Southern Water. Natural England published a position statement in September 2021 requiring developments within the Sussex North WRZ to be water neutral

Corrections to this paragraph are requested in order to ensure consistency, clarity and accuracy of the paragraph in relation to other references in the Chichester Local Plan to Southern Water’s supply in the Sussex North Water Resource Zone, as follows;

WGPC supports this statement with qualification
2022’s dry summer demonstrated that that water is a finite resource and residents are already experiencing difficulties, with a threat of water rationing (local wells ran dry).
The Water Neutrality Strategy is an untested and unproven methodology, should a plan be built on this?
WGPC has serious concerns that proposed level of development in the WS North Water Resource Zone across the different Local Authority areas will have a significant affect despite the Water Neutrality Strategy.

WGPC supports this statement with qualification
2022’s dry summer demonstrated that that water is a finite resource and residents are already experiencing difficulties, with a threat of water rationing (local wells ran dry).
The Water Neutrality Strategy is an untested and unproven methodology, should a plan be built on this?
WGPC has serious concerns that proposed level of development in the WS North Water Resource Zone across the different Local Authority areas will have a significant affect despite the Water Neutrality Strategy.