Time to work with Affinity on issues around water supply to the thousands of new homes planned for Wembley, Alperton and Northwick Park

There was some confusion at this week's Planning Committee when councillors discussed the Atlip, Alperton planning application. Cllr Saqib Butt asked about concerns raised by Thames Water over a previous application on the site. He was puzzled that they had raised no concerns over the revised application which was double the size of the original.

 

I went back to the recording to try and clarify what was said. It appear that the reference to Thames Water is about foul water capacity and the officer's reply merely says that there must have been some work on capacity in the meantime. 

In the north of Brent water is supplied by Affinity Water and dispersal of foul water by Thames.

The Committee papers show no consultation with Affinity as the suppliers on water  supply capacity and no assurance that they have to capacity to supply such a large development.

This is obviously crucial and can be set against the works on Watford Road that Affinity is currently undertaking to improve supply.

 Brent Council has confirmed that the works are essential to deliver the required water for the growth of development in Wembley and Alperton consisting of large blocks of flats and apartment which are built rapidly.

Currently there are 2,293 properties under construction and Affinity are aware of 3,905 proposed future developments. I am not sure if this includes the regeneration underway in Northwick Park.

Without the reinforcement works taking place immediately it has been modelled that an estimated 2,916 properties could experience periods without water and 5,084 with poor presssure within the Wembley area.

Some areas in the north of the borough already experience low pressure so it seems essential that Affinity are consulted at the planning stage of new developments and perhaps invited to Scrutiny to clarify the issues as Thames Water was in the past.