Draft Greater Cambridge Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document re-consultation - 2025

In the Statement of Consultation, Anglian Water's previous representation on the Planning Obligations SPD with regard to exemption for the delivery of utility infrastructure, was noted. However the Council's assessment sets out that it would be reasonable to consider the role of public art in providing mitigation where major utilities infrastructure results in impacts such as landscape, visual or amenity impacts. We disagree with the Council’s assessment.

Most of our above ground infrastructure such as water recycling centres (or extensions there of), pumping stations, water treatment works, and service reservoirs are not in locations which are routinely visited by or indeed often seen by the public. They are operational areas with strict security requirements and are generally located on the edge of or outside settlements. Amenity and landscape matters relating to our new utility infrastructure are addressed through identified mitigation measures following technical assessment such as new landscaping and do not require public art to ameliorate impacts. As such Anglian Water does not consider that public art contributions for all major utilities infrastructure would meet the tests for planning obligations, in that they are not reasonable or necessary to make the development acceptable.

Further, Anglian Water provides essential wastewater and water supply infrastructure, including underground assets such as sewers and water supply pipelines. Funding for new infrastructure outlined in our Business Plans, is agreed with Ofwat our economic regulator, under specific financial metrics methodology, that sets the parameters for spending. Our investments use public money funded through customer bills, and additional contributions to public art would not be considered value for money, when our primary focus is to deliver the infrastructure needed to support growth and environmental improvements.

From a delivery perspective we would also be concerned that any requirement for contributions, which would need to be secured through a legal agreement, would result in further delays to determination of applications thereby adversely impacting our ability to get to site. In a number of cases we have obligations dates to meet and Anglian Water is fined if it does not meet these.

We would therefore recommend that paragraph 12.17 of the SPD is amended to state:

Exemptions
12.17 Exemptions include the provision of essential utilities infrastructure, unless there are compelling reasons for including a contribution. Otherwise, the decision on the exemption of public art within new development will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis but will include consideration if it is not possible to achieve an appropriate publicly visible artwork on or close to the development site. In such circumstances, a financial contribution to support public art initiatives within the vicinity of the development may be sought, especially if the development is in an area deemed deficient in public art as demonstrated through the Council’s public art audit.