Whitlingham Water Recycling Centre

Whitlingham Water Recycling Centre

South Norfolk Council, Broadland District Council and Norwich City Council, Joint Position Statement April 2025

Anglian Water (AW) has recently advised the Authorities that Whitlingham Water Recycling Centre (WWRC) is at capacity and that no more planning permissions should be issued without the imposition of the following condition:

“Prior to occupation written confirmation from Anglian Water must be submitted confirming the upgrades at Whitlingham Trowse water recycling centre have been completed, and there is sufficient headroom to accommodate the foul flows from the development site”

Officers of Norwich City Council, Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council have carefully considered the request and have discussed the implications of the situation with AW and with the Environment Agency.

The three affected local planning authorities have agreed to cooperate and will keep under consideration and review the number of applications which have been made and permissions granted cumulatively across the three authorities until WWRC has been adequately upgraded. They rely on AW to work to improve the position as quickly as possible and certainly within the next 5 years in line with its duty in s94 and to keep the authorities informed.

On that basis the Councils will adopt the following approach to planning applications which will be served by WWRC response. This is subject to review if circumstances change.

The Councils will not impose the requested condition, which it considers to be flawed.

In respect of each application received Officers will assess the risk to the environment and amenity from the issue which has been brought to its attention by AW and will weigh that against the benefits of the development in the planning balance.

The Councils will require an EIA for development within Schedule 2 of the The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 where officers are of the opinion that due to the nature or extent of the development, the volume of wastewater arising will result in a significant risk of harm to the environment.

Where they consider that the balance is in favour of development a recommendation for approval (subject to other material considerations) will be made.

Assessment of the risk may result in the imposition of a condition controlling foul drainage volumes from a particular development or in permission being granted for an alternative wastewater treatment method, such as a package treatment plant.

In the case of some applications a condition may be imposed which delays occupation of all or part of a development to until a sewer connection has been made. Such conditions will be imposed where there is evidence to justify the imposition of such a condition and can be expected to be in the form of a Grampian style condition. They will be imposed where the Council is satisfied that that there is a reasonable probability that the condition will be fulfilled within the normal development commencement period.

SNC/BDC/Norwich CC will continue to require appropriate nutrient mitigation.