Overview
The Project would deliver a number of benefits at a national, regional and local level, including:
- Contributing to Government environmental objectives Through our Water Industry National Environment Programme, we are working with the Environment Agency, landowners, and key stakeholders to meet the objectives of the Water Framework Directive Regulations. This directive commits England and Wales to ensuring sufficient water of suitable quality in all water bodies to prevent the deterioration of the water environment. The Project will play a major role in meeting this national objective in Hampshire.
- Enabling economic growth The Project will help deliver economic and social benefits in the Hampshire area, including new jobs and skills training as part of the construction phase and increased spending in our local economies. We are producing an Outline Skills and Employment Plan that will accompany our Development Consent Order application to identify and maximise local benefits in terms of employment, supply chain and training opportunities. The plan will provide further information regarding the skills that will be needed, how they will be sourced and how these could provide opportunities to people in Hampshire.
- Facilitating housing growth Southern Water supplies water to more than 2 million homes and businesses across the South East. With communities expanding and populations growing, we have a duty to ensure every home in our region has access to a clean and wholesome water supply. The Project will help us maintain supplies for existing customers and build capacity for future housing growth.
- Environmental Net Gain and Biodiversity Net Gain Environmental Net Gain can ensure that new developments have a positive impact by leaving the natural environment in a significantly better state than before the project was constructed. Biodiversity Net Gain is a crucial part of Environmental Net Gain. We are actively seeking to create environmental opportunities throughout the project and are exploring ways to achieve a 10% increase in biodiversity. Potential opportunities could include tree planting, landscaping enhancements, improvements to riverside and wildlife habitats, and enhancements to woodland and grassland. These opportunities may involve on-site and off-site measures and collaborating with others to support existing or planned initiatives. A strategy for achieving Environmental Net Gain and Biodiversity Net Gain will be included in our Development Consent Order application.