Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18)

Comment

Representation ID: 13805

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: United Utilities plc

I&O_14325
Biodiversity Net Gain As part of our response to the Environment Act and the delivery of biodiversity net gain (BNG), we are currently reaching out to local authorities to ensure we develop a BNG strategy that, wherever possible, supports local biodiversity and nature recovery needs. Although the land we own is primarily operational land, we are currently evaluating all land owned by UUW within local authorities that could be used for habitat creation or enhancement works and developing a list of candidate sites. In identifying land, we clearly recognise the strategic importance of aligning our site selection process with local, regional and national policies and objectives on biodiversity and nature recovery. As part of the preparation of your new local plan, we would welcome the opportunity to further discuss your approach to the delivery of BNG and the identification of strategic opportunities to support local nature recovery. We are keen to ensure that BNG is delivered in the most appropriate locations and without restricting the potential future expansion and operation of key operational infrastructure which is often very geographically restricted and critical to meeting future growth and environmental drivers. We request that your policy includes sufficient flexibility to allow for off-site provision. This is particularly in respect of existing and new infrastructure sites. On-site provision may not be the most appropriate long-term solution for the delivery of BNG when investing in key infrastructure such as water and wastewater assets. BNG should be resilient to future pressures from further development. It is critical that land at and around our key infrastructure sites is not sterilised to ensure that we are able to flexibly and most appropriately respond to future growth and environmental drivers. We also wish to note that biodiversity mitigation / enhancement should not be located directly over water and wastewater assets or where excavation onto the asset would require removal of the biodiversity.

Comment

Representation ID: 13806

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: United Utilities plc

I&O_14326
Property Interests of UUW We would wish to assess any possible future development sites to determine whether we have any land interests such as easements and rights of access which are in addition to our statutory rights for inspection, maintenance and repair. These land interests may have restrictions that must be adhered to. It is the responsibility of the developer to obtain a copy of the associated legal document, available from our Legal Services department or Land Registry and to comply with the provisions stated within the document. We would request that these matters are addressed in site-specific policy / development considerations if you allocate the sites. We recommend that landowners/developers contact our Property Services team at PropertyGeneralEnquiries@uuplc.co.uk to discuss how any proposals may interact with our land interests. Our easements, pipe structures and access rights should not be affected by the design and construction of new development.

Comment

Representation ID: 13807

Received: 29/08/2025

Respondent: United Utilities plc

I&O_14327
New Renewal Energy Opportunities We are currently evaluating all land owned by UUW within local authorities that could be used for renewable energy and developing a list of candidate sites. In identifying land, we recognise the strategic importance of aligning our site selection process with local, regional and national policies and objectives on renewable energy and net zero. As part of the preparation of your new local plan, we would welcome the opportunity to further discuss your approach to the delivery of renewable energy sites and the identification of new opportunities.