First, we had nutrient neutrality. Now we have water neutrality. Housebuilders and developers in the UK certainly have their work cut out getting planning applications approved. But the latest issue of water neutrality is one that’s relatively simple for them and their designers to resolve.
The definition of water neutrality is that the use of water in a supply area after a development has taken place should be the same as or lower than before it took place.
Natural England has instructed that any new housing development must achieve water neutrality. It is warning local authorities, particularly in conservation, protection and special scientific interest areas, that until its collective water neutrality strategy is finalised, decisions on planning applications should be deferred. However, if there are applications which a planning authority deems critical to proceed in the absence of the strategy, then Natural England advises that any application needs to demonstrate water neutrality.
It has provided an agreed interim approach for demonstrating water neutrality – minimising the water use of new build developments by completing a water budget (based on occupancy) and demonstrating they can achieve strict water targets (for example, 85 litres per person per day).
This is relatively simple though, with a combination of reducing water usage and creating new supplies of water, such as educating the workforce in an office block on the importance of saving water and making use of rainfall with a water collection system on the roof.
Architects and interior designers can easily help their housebuilding clients achieve this by designing in rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling and specifying water efficient fixings (such as tap and shower aerators, and water-saving cisterns).
To view Graf UK’s CPD on rainwater harvesting, go to https://bit.ly/GRAFRWHCPD.