Southern Water is unable to support the Core Strategy as sound because Policy RA2 fails to recognise water and wastewater infrastructure as acceptable forms of development in the countryside. This approach is unduly restrictive and could prevent delivery of necessary infrastructure. This is contrary to paragraph 27 (iv) of PPS1 which requires the provision of essential infrastructure to be taken into account to deliver sustainable development.

Southern Water fully appreciates the planning authority's wish to control development in the countryside. However, it is important that policies do not unduly restrict provision of essential water supply and wastewater infrastructure. Policy RA2 should recognise that essential utility development is acceptable in the countryside if it is required to serve new and existing development.

Furthermore, although we accept that impacts on the countryside should always be minimised, in some cases total avoidance is not possible.

In such cases, and where the benefit of the development outweighs the negative impact, mitigation or compensation might be the most sustainable way to proceed. This approach is consistent with paragraph 19 of PPS1.