South West Water has committed a total of almost £10 million of funding to unlock the South West’s levelling up ambitions by helping offset the impact of future housing development in the Rivers Axe and Camel catchments. This includes £5.3 million of investment which has been delivered as well as a further £4.5 million which is a combination of accelerated spending, alongside new investment to support nature based solutions which aims to reduce reducing nutrient pollution in the area.
While development unlocks jobs and homes for local residents, it also has an environmental impact. The nature based solutions South West Water will deliver through this funding will support more sustainable development to progress.
Investment includes funding to improve local treatment works, alongside building on the existing Up Stream Thinking catchment management programme which works with local partners to protect and enhance land and natural habits.
Work in this area will create up to 100 hectares of new woodland and wetlands, which will not only form natural buffers to improve river water quality but also improve local habitats and help ecosystems thrive.
Susan Davy, Chief Executive Pennon Group said:
“We have a track record of working with partners across our region to restore, protect and enhance around 100,000 hectares of land through our catchment management programme. This investment will help unlock more sustainable housing development through the planting of trees and the creation of wetlands in the catchment through continued partnership work. We recognise the importance of doing what we can to help unlock the region’s shared levelling up ambitions.”
South West Water will continue to work closely with developers to promote nature based drainage solutions for new developments and making sure that local networks have sufficient capacity when new homes are built.
For further information please contact:
South West Water