Delivering planning and environmental impact assessment services for wastewater

Chichester Growth Pipeline

The region’s development plan had identified significant urban growth, and with increased need, there needed to be increased service. On top of that, Southern Water wanted to divert wastewater flows away from an existing wastewater treatment works, to lighten the load and reduce potential impacts on a nearby site of European importance.

The pipeline starting point was in a rural area to the west of Chichester, with the end point at Tangmere Wastewater Treatment Works. With a significant physical constraint—Chichester and its historic core—West Sussex County Council determined that an environmental impact assessment was needed. We were the lead advisor in relation to planning, and we drafted the planning supporting statement, statement of community involvement, and design and access details. We also drafted several specialist chapters of the environmental statement including the front-end, planning policy, landscape, ecology, socio economic, and water resources chapters.

After a robust stakeholder and community engagement process and our submission of the planning application, Southern Water received planning permission for the project. When construction is completed, the Chichester pipeline and transfer stations will improve water service and reliability for the entire community.