6 Water

6.1 Policy context

International

The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) requires protection and enhancement of the ecological and chemical status of rivers, lakes, groundwater and estuaries and prevention of deterioration.

The Floods Directive (2007/60/EC) establishes a framework for assessing and managing flood risk.

The UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 seeks to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

National

The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) has been retained in domestic legislation through the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017.  The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 provides the framework for local flood risk management and sustainable drainage.

The Water Resources Act 1991 provides for the protection and management of controlled waters and water resources and the Land Drainage Act 1991 establishes powers and responsibilities relating to drainage and ordinary watercourses.

The Environment Act 2021 establishes targets and mechanisms for improving water quality and environmental outcomes.

Updated River Basin Management Plans (2022) for the North West and Dee River Basin Districts establish environmental objectives and programmes of measures for the period 2021-2027. National policy seeks to improve water body status, reduce pollution incidents, increase resilience to drought and flooding, and support adaptation to climate change.

The Water Industry Act 1991 relates to water supply and sewerage infrastructure provision.

The National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (2025) are non-statutory technical standards produced by government.  They aim to ensure that Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the SuDS manual.

The NPPF requires planning policies and decisions to:

• Contribute to and enhance the natural environment, including protecting and improving water quality and ecological networks.
• Prevent new and existing development from contributing to unacceptable levels of water pollution and support the recovery of water bodies.
• Apply a sequential, risk-based approach to the location of development, directing development to areas at the lowest risk of flooding where possible.
• Ensure development is safe for its lifetime, taking account of the effects of climate change and avoiding increases in flood risk elsewhere.
• Incorporate SuDS and multifunctional blue-green infrastructure, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate.
• Ensure that development is supported by adequate water supply, wastewater and drainage infrastructure or that suitable improvements can be delivered in step with development.
• Support climate change adaptation measures that improve resilience to drought, flooding and extreme weather events.
• Protect and enhance natural capital assets, including rivers, wetlands, floodplains and groundwater resources.
• Support water-efficient development and the sustainable management of water resources.

The Flood Risk and Coastal Change PPG includes: 

• Guidance on application of the Sequential and Exception Tests.
• Guidance on site-specific Flood Risk Assessments and sustainable drainage.
• Guidance on climate change allowances and water quality considerations.

Regional

• Environment Agency River Basin Management Plans for the North West and Dee River Basin Districts.
• Regional Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management strategies.
• Catchment-based partnership initiatives covering the Dee, Weaver, Gowy and Mersey catchments.

Local

• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2026).
• Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (2016).
• Water Cycle Study (2010).
• United Utilities and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Water Resource Management Plans and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans.

6.2 Baseline information

Water quality and supply

Water quality remains a significant issue across the borough. Cheshire West and Chester falls within the North West River Basin District, including the Weaver and Gowy catchments, and the Dee River Basin District. Many monitored water bodies are currently classified below Good Ecological Status or Good Ecological Potential, reflecting ongoing pressures from wastewater discharges, agricultural runoff and other sources of diffuse pollution. The Environment Agency's Catchment Data Explorer provides the principal source of information on ecological status and progress towards Water Framework Directive objectives.

Current Water Resource Management Plans set out how future water demand is intended to be managed through a combination of existing resources, demand management measures and planned investment. Ongoing liaison with water companies will be required to confirm the availability of long-term water supply and wastewater treatment capacity to support planned growth.

Climate change is expected to increase pressure on water resources through hotter, drier summers, whilst more intense rainfall events may place additional pressure on drainage and wastewater systems.

Recent national policy and regulatory initiatives place increasing emphasis on the relationship between planned growth, wastewater treatment capacity, nutrient pollution and the achievement of environmental objectives. Ensuring that sufficient wastewater infrastructure is delivered alongside development is becoming an increasingly important consideration in plan-making and decision-taking.

Water resources may also face increasing pressure as a result of population growth and economic development. National policy increasingly recognises the need to improve water efficiency and support sustainable long-term management of water resources.

National policy and case law have increased focus on nutrient pollution and the potential effects of development on internationally protected habitats.

Flood risk

The borough is affected by a range of flood risk sources, including:

• Fluvial flooding from rivers and watercourses.
• Tidal flooding associated principally with the Dee Estuary.
• Surface water flooding.
• Groundwater flooding.
• Sewer flooding.

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) (2026) identifies significant areas of the borough as being affected by flood risk and provides the evidence base for application of the sequential approach to site allocation and development management.

The Authority monitors planning permissions granted contrary to Environment Agency advice on flood risk and water quality grounds through the Authority Monitoring Report. This has remained low, with 0 permissions recorded during 2024/25.

Additional growth has the potential to increase surface water runoff and place pressure on existing drainage infrastructure if not appropriately managed.

6.3 Recent changes and anticipated trends

• Publication of the updated National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026), including strengthened emphasis on climate resilience, infrastructure delivery and nature-based solutions.
• Increased national focus on wastewater treatment capacity, drainage infrastructure and the cumulative impacts of development on water environments.
• Expansion of requirements and expectations relating to sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).
• Updated flood mapping, climate change allowances and flood-risk guidance.
• Continued emphasis on improving ecological and chemical waterbody status through River Basin Management Planning.
• Increased focus on integrated catchment management, natural flood management and blue-green infrastructure.
• Increased frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events.
• Greater risk of surface water flooding and pressure on drainage systems.
• Increased demand on water supply and wastewater infrastructure arising from planned growth.
• Stronger regulatory expectations relating to water efficiency, water quality and environmental outcomes.
• Increased use of blue-green infrastructure, nature-based solutions and multifunctional SuDS.
• Continued pressure to improve the ecological status of water bodies under Water Framework Directive objectives.
• Increased scrutiny of wastewater treatment and sewer network capacity to support planned development.
• Greater integration of water management, biodiversity recovery, green infrastructure and climate adaptation objectives.

6.4 Evidence gaps and proposed work

Identified from the SFRA:

• Level 1 SFRA update as required: Understanding of local flood risk (Level 1 SFRA update as required) - When there are changes to: the predicted impacts of climate change on flood risk; national flood modelling; detailed flood modelling - such as from the Environment Agency or Lead Local Flood Authority; the Local Plan, spatial development strategy or relevant local development documents; local flood management schemes; flood risk management plans; local flood risk management strategies; national planning policy or guidance; or after a significant flood event.
• Level 2 SFRA: Further, more detailed assessment of flood risk to high and medium risk sites both now and in the future as notified by the Level 1 SFRA.
• Working with Natural Processes (WwNP): Further assessment of WwNP options in upper catchments to gauge possible areas for Natural Flood Management. Promote creation of floodplain and riparian woodland, floodplain reconnection and runoff attenuation features where the research indicates that it would be beneficial to the borough.
• Water Cycle Study: Update to ensure sufficient provision of infrastructure for water supply and wastewater for new development. Particularly relevant to intensification of urban development or the development of large strategic sites.
• Partnership working: continue to collaborate with water companies on sewer and surface water projects to ensure their assets can remain operational and resilient at all times across the catchment and that capacity for new development is appropriate. Continue to work with the Environment Agency on fluvial and tidal flood risk management projects. Potential opportunities for joint schemes to tackle flooding from all sources should be identified.

Other:

• Understanding of wastewater treatment works capacity and planned improvement programmes required to support growth.
• Assessment of potential nutrient and water quality impacts arising from strategic development allocations.
• Continued engagement with the Environment Agency and water companies regarding water quality, wastewater treatment and drainage infrastructure requirements.
• Assessment of opportunities for water neutrality, water efficiency and nature-based water management measures where appropriate.

6.5 Local Plan scope and influence

The Local Plan can:

• Direct development away from areas of highest flood risk through the sequential approach.
• Require Sequential and Exception Tests where necessary.
• Promote and support water efficiency measures in new development.
• Require sustainable drainage systems and multifunctional green infrastructure.
• Protect and enhance rivers, streams, watercourses, wetlands and groundwater resources.
• Safeguard and improve water quality through spatial strategy and development management policies.
• Support investment in water supply, wastewater and drainage infrastructure.
• Promote blue-green infrastructure and natural flood management approaches.
• Support adaptation to the impacts of climate change on flood risk and water resources.
• Ensure that development is aligned with available water supply, drainage and wastewater infrastructure capacity.
• Promote integrated blue-green infrastructure networks that deliver flood management, biodiversity and climate adaptation benefits.

The Local Plan has a moderate to high influence over flood risk management, sustainable drainage implementation, water quality and water efficiency outcomes. However, its influence over strategic water resource provision and major wastewater infrastructure investment is more limited and relies upon engagement with water companies and regulatory bodies.

6.6 Key sustainability issues and opportunities

• Many water bodies remain below Good Ecological Status or Potential.
• Existing fluvial, tidal, surface water and groundwater flood risks affect parts of the borough.
• Development and wastewater discharges can place pressure on water quality.
• Climate change is likely to increase both flood risk and water resource pressures.
• Capacity constraints may arise within drainage and wastewater infrastructure.
• Increased areas of hard surfacing can lead to greater surface water runoff.
• Agricultural pollution continues to affect some catchments.
• Uncertainty regarding the capacity of wastewater and drainage infrastructure to accommodate future growth.
• Achieving improvements in ecological waterbody status whilst accommodating significant development needs.
• Long-term pressures on water resources arising from climate change and population growth.
• Direct growth towards areas of lowest flood risk.
• Deliver high-quality sustainable drainage systems and blue-green infrastructure.
• Improve the ecological condition of rivers, streams and other water bodies.
• Increase water efficiency and reduce water consumption in new development.
• Reduce surface water runoff and improve climate resilience.
• Support natural flood management and nature-based solutions.
• Deliver multiple benefits through integrated water-sensitive design, including biodiversity, recreation and climate adaptation benefits.
• Integrate water management and climate adaptation objectives into site allocation and development design.
• Support infrastructure investment that improves water quality and environmental performance.
• Achieve multiple benefits through nature-based solutions that enhance flood resilience, biodiversity and public access to green space.

6.7 SA Framework