Water (Special Measures) Act: Raising the Bar for Water‑Adjacent Sites

Higher bar for water‑adjacent development

New enforcement powers over water utilities are rippling into planning. Schemes near treatment assets, reservoirs, and sensitive catchments are facing more questions about pollution pathways, foul capacity, and surface‑water management. The result: a higher evidence bar at validation and greater scrutiny during consultation.

Developers who anticipate this by submitting a Phase 1 Desktop Study plus field‑verified Infiltration Testing will find dialogues with consultees far smoother. The Phase 1 Desktop Study sets out historic land uses, potential contamination, receptors, and hydrological context; infiltration testing confirms whether soakaways or permeable paving are realistic, or whether attenuation with controlled discharge is required.

Evidence to include

Strengthen your pack with soakaway test logs and calculations, drawings that show exceedance routing, and clear maintenance schedules. If the Phase 1 Desktop Study flags contamination, show how drainage features avoid hot‑spots or incorporate treatment trains. Tie the narrative together in the drainage strategy and planning statement so each consultee sees a coherent, credible story.

On an energy‑storage site beside a sensitive watercourse, this approach avoided a second round of consultation entirely—the case officer had everything needed on day one.

Coordinating with utilities

Where water company sign‑off is needed, measured data shortens response times. EnviroSolution delivers Phase 1 Desktop Study and Infiltration Testing nationwide with rapid booking, helping infrastructure and utility‑adjacent schemes keep momentum under stricter oversight.