In April, Anglian Water hosted a developer webinar focused on ‘Delivering Sustainable Growth’. Despite limited attendance, the key message was clear: following an internal review, Anglian Water (AW) has identified capacity issues at their wastewater recycling centres, formerly known as sewage treatment works.

AW manages approximately 1,100 facilities across the Anglian region. Each facility has been RAG rated based on its capacity to handle additional sewage flows from new developments:

  • Red: No additional capacity until at least 2030. AW will object to both local plan allocations and planning applications, regardless of existing allocations.
  • Amber: Planned ongoing investments. AW will request local planning authorities to impose a pre-occupation condition, preventing the occupation of new dwellings until the recycling centre is upgraded.
  • Green: No capacity issues.

The Cambridge growth area remains a primary focus for ongoing investment. However, AW’s policy has significant implications for planned and allocated developments, as well as emerging local plans across the region.

In Central Bedfordshire, nearly 50% of recycling centres have been identified as red or amber. For instance, Biggleswade is rated red, and AW will object to all new development proposals within its catchment area.

Immediate Advice

  • Obtain a water resources capacity report early in the site identification, option agreement, or land purchase process, and before any pre-application submission or formal planning application.
  • Monitor the local planning authority area to identify local plan allocations unlikely to be deliverable until 2030 or later, depending on the recycling centre’s status. This may result in five-year housing land supply (5YHLS) issues for local authorities unable to deliver development in constrained settlements.

For further information, please contact us.

We will continue to monitor local planning authority responses to this issue, which will impact the national priority to deliver 1.5 million new dwellings during the current parliament.