The protection of the water environment is a key issue for the borough. The borough's rivers are recognised as being of high quality and therefore particularly sensitive to change, and future growth and development in the borough may have an impact on the water environment. As a consequence, the borough council commissioned a Water Cycle Study with the aim of informing both the South East Plan and the council's emerging Local Development Framework (LDF).
Phases 1 and 2 of the Study have been overseen by a Steering Group which comprises representatives of the following organisations:
• Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
• The Environment Agency
• Hampshire County Council
• Thames Water
• Southern Water
• Natural England
• South East Water
The purpose of the study is to better understand the relationship between development and the water environment around Basingstoke, by examining the potential impacts of future growth on three main aspects of the water cycle:
- Water Resources - potential increased demand for water and the infrastructure requirements to distribute it
- Water Quality - potential increased generation of sewerage and other wastewater, requiring collection and treatment systems and the potential increased risk to the quality of the water environment including its ecology
- Flood Risk - potential increase in wastewater or surface water run-off which could increase the risk of flooding.
The study is of significance at a local and regional level and is increasingly gaining recognition nationally as a best practice example of how to address the challenge of sustainable development.
Phase 1 of the study was completed in March 2007, and Phase 2 was completed in October 2009. To view the documents for Phase 1 and 2 of the Water Cycle Study, clink on the appropriate link below:
Water Cycle Study Phase 1 Documents
Water Cycle Study Phase 2 Document
