Motion for developers to show how new homes' sewage will be managed to go before Arun
Developers could be required to show how sewage from new homes will be managed in parts of Arun where the sewer network is already under pressure.
Councillor Sue Wallsgrove has put forward a motion to Arun District Council to investigate tougher planning requirements for developments in areas where sewage infrastructure is struggling to cope.
The motion, seconded by Councillor Gill Yeates, highlights Lidsey, near Bognor Regis, and other areas where the network faces capacity and performance issues.
The proposal would require developers to demonstrate how additional wastewater from their properties could be managed without adding further pressure to the sewage system.
A technical note attached to the motion says one possible solution would be to install storage tanks to hold sewage when the network is under pressure, before releasing it gradually once there is enough capacity.
The motion says developers should provide a complete drainage plan that includes how the system would work, be maintained and how it would be connected to Southern Water’s network.
It also asks the council to look into using Grampian conditions which can prevent a development from going ahead or homes from being occupied until certain requirements have been met.
The motion asks that officers review which areas in the district have sewer capacity problems, what improvements Southern Water is planning to make and how this may affect individual planning applications.
A report setting out the options and any recommendations is requested to go before the Planning Policy Committee on January 21, 2027.
No new planning requirements would be introduced at this stage if approved.
The motion will be presented to Arun Full Council on November 11.