Environment secretary confirms Schedule 3 sustainable drainage provisions to be switched on

Environment secretary, George Eustice, confirmed last week the government's intention to switch on the sustainable drainage provisions set out in Schedule 3 of the Floods and Water Management Act 2010.

He was giving evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC). Dr Matthew Offord asked whether Defra’s proposed storm overflow reduction plan was “addressing the symptoms, rather than the cause” of problems, and: “Would it not be a better idea to work with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to change planning rules, so that land management practices are altered and we do not get surface water entering the drain system?”

Eustice replied: “Yes, we are going to activate the provisions that were in the last Water Act, 2010 or thereabouts, to activate the more formal requirements for sustainable urban drainage. The truth is I think that has been put off for far too long. If we have the housing growth ambition to meet the need that there is, we will need to see those new developments fully embracing our sustainable urban drainage to take pressure off the drainage systems.”

On the issue of whether it would be appropriate for fines paid by water companies to fund local river restoration, rather than go into Treasury coffers, Eustice replied in the negative. “It is quite a fundamental principle under our system that a fine goes back into the central pot and is not ring-fenced for a particular thing. I think that the Treasury would be very concerned about the thin end of the wedge if we were to depart from that.”

Eustice was answering questions from the EAC on a wide range of issues including water, agriculture, regulatory resourcing, environmental principles and biodiversity.