East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy 2005/06

Key Points
Studies by the Regional Assembly as part of the
development of the revised RSS have shown that
the region will be short of water in the future if
measures are not taken to reduce water use,
particularly in new developments
The EU Water Framework Directive will continue to
be a key driver for the protection and improvement
of the water environment for the next 25 years, with
its central concept of integrated water resource
management for water basins
A significant number of Strategic Flood Risk
Assessments have either been undertaken, or are
planned, to better understated and respond to
development proposals in relation to flood risk
Only 6 local authorities supplied figures on
Sustainable Drainage Schemes (SuDS); in all
planning permission was granted for 13
developments which contained SuDS
The uptake of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has
remained less than expected
The region has seen much increased interest in
wind development and the number of installations
is expected to increase markedly in the next year
The region has challenging targets for renewable
energy generation and there is uncertainty that all
the targets will be met
Actions
The Region’s response to the EU Water
Framework Directive will be led by the
Environment Agency and will be worked out
over the coming months
Progress is being made on undertaking
Strategic Flood Risk Assessments, which are the
responsibility of local authorities; the role of the
Environment Agency in these studies, as set out
in PPS25, needs to be established in each case
SuDS still appears to be an issue that does not
engage local authorities. Action is required to
ensure increased implementation through the
Regional Plan
The move towards carbon neutral and zero
carbon development (in the emerging Regional
Plan) may well provide another driver in favour
of CHP
East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy Annual Monitoring Report 2005/06
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