Representation by Anglian Water Services Ltd (Anglian Water Services Ltd)
- Date submitted
- 24 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Anglian Water is the statutory wastewater recycling provider (sewerage undertaker) for the project area north of the River Thames. Anglian Water and National Highways have been in discussion on the project since September 2018. Meetings on the diversion of Anglian Water assets commenced in July 2019. Anglian Water have provided the property and assets information that National Highways has requested over this period. The National Highways project requires a number of Anglian Water pipes to be diverted and other assets to be protected. National Highways are currently drafting a Statement of Common Ground which Anglian Water provided initial comments to National Highways on 15 October 2022. Anglian Water and National Highways are working to progress a Side Agreement to modify the Protective Provisions cited in the draft DCO for the protection of electricity, gas, water and sewerage undertakers (Schedule 14 Part 1). To date, the National Highways preference for an alternative approach via a Side Agreement has not been finalised. As a result, the draft Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) has not been progressed since October 2022, due to the ongoing negotiations regarding the Side Agreement. On 27th October 2022, Anglian Water requested National Highways to consider including updated Protective Provisions into the draft DCO prior to submission, to negate the need for a separate side agreement, as these provisions had evolved through discussion with National Highways other DCOs such as the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Improvements. However, National Highways has emphasised their preference to use a Side Agreement due to the number of utility providers affected by the project. Therefore, we have agreed to the principle of a side agreement and we are continuing to work towards an appropriate solution on the understanding that the side agreement is not confidential. In addition, unresolved points remain under discussion which we hope to progress through the SoCG: Requirements (Sch. 2 Pt. 1) to include the statutory sewerage undertaker to be a stated consultee on arrangements for surface and foul water drainage, in addition to the drainage authorities, lead local flood authority and the Environment Agency. This is to ensure that surface water flows are managed appropriately following the surface water drainage hierarchy; prioritising the use of sustainable drainage systems, and that drainage designs do not prejudice the operation of Anglian Water assets including currently unknown connections to the public sewer network and consequent impacts on the capacity of the network to serve existing customers and future development. Provision of wastewater connections for construction compounds. There is a need for National Highways to re-engage with Anglian Water given the implications of different charging regimes that changes responsibility for the conveyance to reach the point of connection to the foul sewer, and to confirm whether there will be any trade effluent discharges.