The Project Manager (Planning Policy) introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers. 

The Chair invited questions and comments from Members and these included:

·         Concerned that the necessary water supply could not be provided;

·         the water table at Faversham was going down and this needed to be reviewed with the water provider;

·         it was clear that water supply was an issue and could not be provided for the existing population let alone additional development;

·         an updated Whole Plan Viability Assessment (WPVA) was needed to reassure Members that what was being suggested was deliverable and defendable;

·         concerned that the proposed mitigation against water shortages were not robust enough;

·         did not consider it was realistically viable for the proposed housing targets to come forward and guarantee a reliable water supply.  The Council should follow other local authorities such as Tunbridge Wells who had hit back in that regard;

·         suggested that the Chair of the Council’s Environmental Services and Climate Change Committee invite representatives from Southern Water and South East Water to attend a meeting to provide assurance that they can supply the water needed for new development;

·         a water recycling plant was proposed for Sittingbourne, and a decontamination plant for the Isle of Sheppey.  These facilities were very expensive to operate and questioned whether provision of these was reasonable, whilst doubting they would happen in any case;

·         if Policy C10 was amended as requested at the previous meeting of the Planning and Transportation Policy Working Group (PTPWG), how would that affect this WPVA?;

·         reminded Members that a motion had been agreed by Full Council on 1 April 2026 that representatives of Southern Water and South East Water attend a committee of the Council and account for recent service failures and how they planned to supply water for new developments; and

·         the WPVA was a thorough and effective report which highlighted the high cost of new build homes.

Officers responded and advised that:

·         The WPVA looked at amongst other matters the cost of the mitigation criteria within the climate changes policies that included matters such as measures to address water shortages and whether the Local Plan (LP) could still be viably delivered;

·         this updated WPVA provided the most up-to-date viability and financial data on build costs and sales value of dwellings to inform the deliverability of LP and Infrastructure Delivery Plan; and

·         referred to Chapter 7 (Regulation 18 Responses) of the WPVA and all representations regarding the viability of the LP had been responsed to and considered in the WPVA by the consultants.

At this point, the Planning Manager reminded Members that at the last PTPWG meeting on 27 May 2026 following a proposal by Councillor Speed, it had been agreed that officers investigate whether the following wording could be added to draft Policy C10 (Water Supply, Sewage Network Capacity and Waste Water Treatment Capacity): “That planning permission will not be granted where adequate water supply, sewage network capacity or waste water treatment capacity cannot be demonstrated unless funded and deliverable mitigation or infrastructure upgrades are secured and operational prior to occupation.”  The Planning Manager reported that the Policy Planning Team were looking at the examples provided by Councillor Speed for the emerging Eastbourne and Lewes Joint LP and the London Borough of Merton LP.  Officers would contact Members once their investigations were complete by email to advise whether the wording could be included or whether it needed to be amended.

In response to questions from a Member, the Planning Manager said they would also write to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government on the proposed wording.  If the wording to draft Policy C10 was agreed it would likely not affect the WPVA.

Councillor Brawn proposed the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Speed.

Councillor Baldock and Councillor Bonney were in attendance remotely, and therefore unable to vote.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Whole Plan Viability Assessment Update Note 2026 be noted.