Sewage Flooding Our Gardens: New Homes Will Exacerbate the Crisis

Maids Moreton is a charming Buckinghamshire village known for its lush surroundings, with a population under 1,000 residents. However, this quaint place has become central to a rapidly escalating zoning dispute.

The approved plan to introduce an additional 153 homes into the current community of 350 residences has provoked local outrage, as residents are already struggling with capacity issues. sewage The system apparently has been overloaded for years.

A decision needs to be made: either keep the houses unoccupied until the sewage system is improved, or allow people to move in as part of meeting Buckinghamshire Council’s new housing goals.

Populating the newly constructed houses might boost the sewage pollution Into the Great Ouse, the nearby river — villagers believe this might also bring trouble their way.

Locals told The i Paper The sewer system has caused wastewater to rise into their gardens during heavy rainfalls, and they fear this issue will intensify as more houses are added.

Engineers contend that the proposals will result in a £3.5 million injection into the area’s infrastructure and create additional employment opportunities within the nearby community.

Kate Pryke is among those advocating against the construction of new homes in her village.

She told The i Paper: Our experience shows that everything hindering home construction tends to be overlooked. The capacity for sewage is merely one such issue.

"There is a line of homes right beside the location that experience sewage rising into their gardens during heavy rainfalls," she mentioned additionally.

That topic has already been addressed by the council, and things are bound to deteriorate further.

Julian Cook, who owns the Wheatsheaf pub in the village, mentioned that they have faced sewer issues for many years.

He asserts that these problems were first brought up back in the 1970s when earlier residential projects were underway.

"County and parish council members need to acknowledge that [the sewage problems were] overlooked and confront this reality," he stated. The i Paper .

Ms Pryke stated, "No funds are being allocated for the improvement of the sewage system."

These projects may receive approval for development even though everyone is aware that there is no infrastructure for waste management. Supposedly, this issue holds little significance.

The entire village is talking loudly about this – it gets discarded and hidden away.

Who determines the allocation of funds for sewage infrastructure improvements?

In England, the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat), along with the water companies, decide on the allocation of investments for sewage infrastructure in collaboration with the Environment Agency.

Municipal governments and builders have no direct say in these matters nor can they fund capacity enhancements.

Nevertheless, their requirements, such as upcoming residential construction, are taken into account during the procedure.

The situation in Maids Moreton is not a unique one, as ageing sewage works across England continue to put pressure on the Government’s plans for 1.5 million new homes this parliament.

Ms Pryke stated that homes are being constructed "across the nation" without proper facilities for wastewater treatment.

She remarked, "This topic isn't getting attention from anyone." In her view, it's just good judgment not to construct homes without proper facilities for waste treatment.

Data obtained from the House of Commons library and reviewed The i Paper reveals the pressure the current wastewater system is experiencing. Raw sewage spills Near the Great Ouse, recordings were made for almost 12 weeks annually in 2024.

The environmental organization Wildfish has received approval for a judicial review at the High Court aimed at challenging Buckinghamshire Council’s choice to permit the development project.

Justin Neal, a solicitor from Wildfish, stated that he wishes for government officials to exert influence on water corporations to increase infrastructure capacity within the village.

"This highlights the issues encountered in England, where planning permissions and approvals are granted without adequate consideration of their environmental impact," he stated.

Adding more strain to overburdened sewer systems results in inadequately treated wastewater and sewage overflow into rivers.

Mr Neal told The i Paper He thinks that Ofwat has essentially dodged its obligations, shifting the responsibility onto local planning authorities to enforce regulations via planning conditions.

He stated that these conditions are too lenient and can be altered due to pressures from developers, along with receiving "ineffective guidance from water and sewage firms."

Local Councillor Anja Schaefer told The i Paper there have been concerns over the development for the past two years.

She mentioned that David Wilson Homes South Midlands, the company developing the new homes, faced "significant resident scrutiny" regarding these proposals.

"If there isn't sufficient sewerage capacity to accommodate the new homes being constructed in Maids Moreton, then there won't be enough capacity for many additional properties with approved plans nearby," Councillor Schaefer noted.

Read Next: Thames Water was fined £123 million for sewage issues – however, none of this money is designated for cleanup efforts.

Ofwat states that it has endorsed a "record-breaking" £104 billion investment plan for water firms.

provide within the coming five years via its pricing regulations.

The objective is to reduce sewage contamination by 45 percent by the year 2030 through an investment of £6 million daily in preventive strategies.

A representative from Ofwat stated, "The Independent Water Commission (known as the Cunliffe Review) provides an opportunity to aid in restoring public confidence within the water industry and tackle issues faced by its regulatory bodies."

We are currently collaborating with businesses, investors, consumer organizations, and environmental groups to implement modifications aimed at fostering a water sector that operates in the best interest of our customers, local communities, and the natural environment.

A representative from David Wilson Homes South Midlands stated, "We are delighted that our planning application for 153 new residences, featuring 30 percent affordable housing units, in Maids Moreton has been granted approval."

These initiatives will bring in an investment of £3.5 million towards enhancing local infrastructure. Additionally, we aim to develop new public green spaces equipped with playgrounds, along with employment opportunities for the nearby community.

Regarding nature conservation, we aim for a minimum 10 percent increase in biodiversity. We plan to install bat and bird boxes along with hedgehog corridors, preserve most of the current trees and hedges, and add more native tree species across the area.

We will establish an agreement with Anglian Water for all necessary wastewater improvements needed to facilitate this development. Additionally, it is crucial that water companies enhance the nation’s water and sewage infrastructure investments. This way, we can construct the housing the country requires, fostering job creation and boosting economic expansion.