Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document: Regulation 18 Consultation Assessment Framework

Thank you for consulting Portsmouth Water on the Southbourne Allocation Development Plan Document - Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (England) Regulations 2012. Please find Portsmouth Water's response below. Our Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) sets out how we plan to supply safe, reliable drinking water for the next 50 years (2025-2075). We have developed it with and for our customers, but also to play our part in delivering the best-value plan for the wider South East, which makes the most of our region's precious water resources, prepares for the future and will improve our natural environment. All water companies prepare WRMPs) which consider how much water is available today, how much we need for the future and develop options to make up the difference. These plans are reviewed every year and updated every five years, to make sure they always reflect the latest situation and especially our customers' needs. Our plan covers the period 2025 to 2075. Our WRMP is built on our previous plans, working with our neighbouring companies in the South East to ensure that we meet all the regulatory requirements. Since our WRMP19 there have been significant challenges that we have had to consider, including: Changes in behaviour around water use as a result of Covid-19. The potential need to reduce or stop altogether abstractions from sources that are environmentally sensitive. Accounting for population and housing growth. Working together with neighbouring companies to develop a regional plan (Water Resources South East (WRSE)) to meet the requirements of the National Water Resources Framework. To meet the requirements of Defra's Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP January 2023) which set demanding demand-side targets. Taking account of the risks and uncertainties inherent in planning for at least 25-years ahead Recognising that our plan needs to deliver 'best-value' to our customers and for the environment. More variable and extreme climatic conditions that affect both the water we have available to supply and the water required for the environment and customer demands. Our WRMP presents the base supply-demand balance throughout the next 50-year planning period (2025-26 to 2074-75). It demonstrates the need for the investment necessary to maintain the balance between supply and demand over that period. It shows how we derived feasible options to either reduce demand for water and/or increase the supply of water. It lays out the programme of actions we are proposing to ensure a reliable and resilient water supply for our customers, our environment and to contribute to the resilience of water resources for the wider South East of England. Over the planning period, we are forecasting a reduction in the water we have available to supply, primarily related to a reduction in abstraction to meet environmental protection but also due to the effects of climate change. In addition, we are forecasting an increase in demand from a growing population. The result of which is that we are forecasting significant supply deficits in the planning period. Over the planning period, the additional water we need to find rises from 54.5 MI/d in 2035, rising to 179.8 MI/d in 2075. We have reviewed a range of options to bridge this supply demand balance gap, which include new demand reduction options and new supply schemes. These options were used in the investment modelling to develop our best value plan which accounts for environmental protection, national targets, and customer preferences. Starting in 2025-2026 - implementation of demand management measures. This includes reducing leakage by 50% by 2040 and an ambitious programme to install smart water meters for all customers within 10 years. From 2025-2026 until 2040-2041 continue to allow for existing drought schemes as set out in our Drought Plan. From 2025-2026 until 2038-2039 reduce the risk of requiring Emergency Drought Order by planning for 1-in-200 Levels of Service initially and then moving to 1-in-500 by 2038-2039. From 2025-2026 continue to meet existing bulk supply obligations to Southern Water and to allow for future requirements. Some of these exports reduce overtime as our available supplies reduce as we make sustainability reductions for environmental protection. From 2039-40 receive an import from Southern Water and undertake upgrades to network boosters to unlock deployable output. From 2046-47 onwards increase the transfer and treatment capacity within our network to allow additional water to be abstracted and treated from Havant Thicket Reservoir. This option is linked to the development of strategic regional resources by other companies to allow for further capacity increases. In line with regulatory requirements, we have looked at a range of potential futures based on projections of population growth, climate change and environmental protection. Our investment the first 15 years of the planning period is very consistent, indicating that the proposed set of investments would be required in all future scenarios. We will track and monitor annually which potential future is emerging which will inform our adaptive plan. These options balance our supply demand deficit, ensuring we can continue to ensure a security of supply to our customers. Our plan also seeks to meet the demand-side targets set out in Defra's Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP ,January 2023) by 2050 and for leakage we aim to bring forward delivery of the target by 10 years (by 2040). Further details of our WRMP can be found here: https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Portsmouth-Water- WRMP24-rdWRMP24-August-2023.pdf Given the high demand for water supply in the South East and its classification of being an area under 'serious water stress' we have the following recommendation for new build developments: Portsmouth Water encourage local planning authorities to consider higher standards of water efficiency in new developments, with all new homes being built to a minimum standard of 100 litres per person per day. Planning policy can help to ensure long-term sustainability and management of water supplies, which is likely to reduce the need to take less water from the environment to protect local streams and rivers and the wildlife which rely on them. For developments that can demonstrate meeting high standards of water efficiency of no more than 100 litres per head per day, Portsmouth water offer an incentive of a 50% discount on the Infrastructure charge. Based on a development of 200 properties with an occupancy of 3 people per property, there will be a minimum saving of 15,000 litres per day. The guide would benefit covering the importance of water efficient developments and to recommend this for all new dwellings.

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