Wokingham Borough Council Proposed Submission Managing Development Delivery Development Plan Document (Local Plan) (MDD DPD) INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY PLAN JUNE 2012 Infrastructure Delivery Plan for the Proposed submission Managing Development Delivery Development Plan Document (MDD DPD) June 2012 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) seeks to ensure that Local Plans plan positively for the development and infrastructure required in the area to meet the objectives, principles, and policies of the NPPF. 1.2 The Borough’s Local Development Framework includes the Core Strategy and Proposed Submission Managing Development Delivery Development Plan Document (MDD DPD). These are the Local Plans for the Borough. 1.3 Wokingham Borough’s spatial strategy, which reflects the Council’s Sustainable Community Strategy, is set out in the adopted Core Strategy (January 2010). The Core Strategy was found sound following an independent Examination in Public in 2009. The Core Strategy identifies four Strategic Development Locations (SDLs) which will meet the majority of the Borough’s housing requirements to 2026. Policies CP18, Arborfield Garrison SDL, CP19 South of M4 SDL, CP20 North Wokingham SDL and CP21 South Wokingham SDL and Appendix 7 of the Core Strategy set out the strategic and local infrastructure requirements necessary to develop these areas as sustainable communities. 1.4 Further guidance on this approach and how the infrastructure set out in Policies CP18-CP21 and Appendix 7 should be provided is set out in the Council’s adopted Infrastructure Delivery and Contributions Supplementary Planning Documents for the Strategic Development Locations (SPD) (October 2010 and October 2011). 1.5 The Core Strategy and the Infrastructure Delivery and Contributions SPDs were subject to independent viability testing and the approaches were found to be viable. 1.6 The Core Strategy states that sites to meet the remaining housing requirement outside of the SDLs would be allocated in the MDD DPD. The MDD DPD identifies sites to meet the remainder of the housing requirement outside of the SDLs and to ensure a rolling 5 year housing land supply. 1.7 The MDD DPD identifies sites for the delivery of around 840 dwellings to 2026 with allocated reserve sites of around 135 dwellings. The MDD DPD in Policy SAL03: Allocated reserve housing sites, makes it clear that reserve sites would not be released until after 1 April 2026 unless the Council accepts that the overall dwelling requirement for 13,230 net additional dwellings within the Borough between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2026 is unlikely to be achieved; there is a deficit in the 5 year rolling housing land supply, or an approved Neighbourhood Plan confirms that residential development of an allocated reserve site can occur before 1 April 2026. 1.8 Appendix 12 of the MDD DPD sets out some of the specific requirements associated with sites allocated in the MDD DPD. Any application for development will also need to ensure it accords with all relevant policies in 2 Infrastructure Delivery Plan for the Proposed submission Managing Development Delivery Development Plan Document (MDD DPD) June 2012 the Development Plan, including parking provision, provision of open space and dwelling mix. The requirements set out reflect infrastructure requirements currently sought on this type of development through the Council’s Planning Advice Note on Infrastructure Impact Mitigation Contributions for New Development (revised 2010). As such the requirements should not impact on the viability of delivering sites allocated. There may be more specific contributions required from some allocated sites where there is a need for that site to contribute to a specific scheme set out in the Core Strategy or the MDD DPD. For example sites allocated within Wokingham Town Centre may need to contribute to the provision of the Station Link Road. 1.9 In bringing sites forward regard will need to be given to Core Strategy Policy CP4 Infrastructure Requirements which states: “Planning permission will not be granted unless appropriate arrangements for the improvement or provision of infrastructure, services, community, and other facilities required for the development taking account of the cumulative impact of schemes are agreed. Arrangements for provision or improvement to the required standard will be secured by planning obligations or condition if appropriate”. This will be particularly relevant in areas where there are a number of sites within close proximity. 1.10 The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) for the MDD DPD forms part of the evidence base and seeks to identify the infrastructure implications and requirements of the growth identified in the MDD DPD. The IDP is a live document, and will be used to inform the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule. Proposals for development will make appropriate provision for the infrastructure, services, resources and amenities set out in the Council’s Planning Advice Note on Infrastructure Impact Mitigation Contributions for New Development, Supplementary Planning Documents, and/or the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule. Provision may also be secured through planning obligations (Section 106 contributions) in line with Regulation 122 of the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010. 1.11 In preparing the Infrastructure Delivery Plan for the MDD DPD the Council has sought information from a range of sources, including service providers within the Council such as education, transport housing, and leisure and from external organisations such as the Primary Care Trust, Utilities, Police, Fire and Rescue. The Council has also undertaken work with Parish and Town Councils regarding local infrastructure needs . 3 Infrastructure Delivery Plan for the Proposed submission Managing Development Delivery Development Plan Document (MDD DPD) June 2012 2.0 Infrastructure Requirements 2.1 This section provides an overview of the physical, and social and community and green Infrastructure requirements which will be required through the development proposed in the MDD DPD. 2.2 Physical Infrastructure Water Supply & Waste Water Lead Thames Water Utilities Ltd Organisation(s) South East Water Office of Water Services (Ofwat) Main Sources Thames Water Strategic Direction Statement ‘Taking care of Information of water, the next 25 years’ 2010 - 2035 Thames Water Business Plan 2010 - 2015 ‘Our Plans for 2010 – 2015’ Thames Water Water Resources Management Plan 2010 - 2015 Thames Water Draft Drought Plan 2011 South East Water Strategic Direction Statement 2007 South East Water Business Plan 2010 - 2015 ‘Future Plans 2010 – 2015’ South East Water Water Resources Management Plan 2010 - 2035 South East Water Final Draft Drought Plan 2007 Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales (Environment Agency, 2009) Existing Water Supply Provision Thames Water and South East Water are responsible for water supply and supply infrastructure in the Borough. Generally, Thames Water is responsible for the north western part of the Borough with South East Water is responsible for the south eastern part. Thames Water’s water supply area in the Borough is divided between the Kennet Valley and Henley Water Resource Zones (WRZs). South East Water’s water supply area in the Borough is 4 Infrastructure Delivery Plan for the Proposed submission Managing Development Delivery Development Plan Document (MDD DPD) June 2012 area RZ4. Thames Water, Kennet Valley and Henley WRZ The Kennet Valley WRZ has recently benefitted from an upgrade to the water treatment works to enable more water to be treated. Kennet Valley and Henley WRZs are forecasted to maintain a surplus over the planning period 2009 – 2035. This surplus will gradually decline as demand grows and planning uncertainties increase. South East Water, RZ4 RZ4 has a surplus in supply in the early years of the planning period 2010 – 2035. Once this surplus has been removed by forecast increases in demand, it is proposed to transfer existing surplus supply in RZ5 to RZ4 via the existing Inter-Resource Zone transfer between the Zones. Wastewater and Sewerage Thames Water owns and operates the public wastewater and sewerage system and treatment works. Existing Sewerage Works: • Easthampstead Park sewage works, which discharges treated water into Emm Brook, which discharges treated water into Ashridge Stream • Wokingham sewage works, which discharges treated water into Ashridge Stream • Wargrave Sewerage Treatment Works Thames Water’s five year plan, from 2010-2015, sets out proposals to maintain and improve their services during that period. This is their business plan that is submitted Ofwat, outlining future investment priorities and the likely cost. Thames Water has confirmed that there are no specific plans in this period to upgrade the Sewage Treatment Works in Wokingham. The level of growth from the sites proposed to be allocated in the MDD DPD does not pose an issue with regard to ongoing provision of sewage treatment. However, Thames Water has indicated that future phasing of growth may be required in order that growth does not occur at a greater rate than the Sewerage Treatment Works (STW) could accommodate. 5 Infrastructure Delivery Plan for the Proposed submission Managing Development Delivery Development Plan Document (MDD DPD) June 2012 Planned Provision Water and Waste Water Statutory water undertakers (Thames Water and South East Water) have a duty to maintain the security of water supply and every five