Ban automatic sewer connections to promote SuDS, urge MPs

The government must ban the automatic right for developers to connect homes to the public sewer in order to promote the development of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), according to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC).

MPs have made the recommendation as part of a suite of measures the government should take to help the UK adapt to the impacts of climate change, with flooding been “the biggest adaptation risk”.

In a report, the EAC has said that by removing the right to connect housing developments to the public sewer it would “provide an incentive for them to include SuDS” in their projects.

The committee also called on the government to enforce the powers it has under the Flood and Water Management Act to require SuDS in developments, saying it is “reluctant to use it”. This is allowing developments to take place which is adding to the flood risk.

EAC chair Joan Walley said: “With flooding likely to increase the government should enforce existing powers to require SuDS in all development.”

The government announced its plans to make SuDS mandatory for all major developments in December and communities secretary Eric Pickles said: “The government’s expectation is that sustainable drainage systems will be provided in new developments wherever this is appropriate.”

The EAC report adds that government should “give a more explicit direction to all of the infrastructure network providers” to put a high price on the benefits of climate change adaption and that it should reconsider the case for universal water metering in water stressed areas.

Walley added: “To bring about real climate resilience, the government needs to provide a more top-down strategic direction to identify the priority risks.”