It is vital that gypsy and traveller pitches have access to essential infrastructure such as wastewater services and water supply.

It is also important that the pitches are compatible with neighbouring land-uses. It would not be appropriate to locate pitches in close proximity to wastewater treatment works. Southern Water endeavours to operate its wastewater and sludge treatment works efficiently and in accordance with best practice to prevent pollution. However, the very nature of wastewater treatment works means that they are not ideal neighbours to sensitive development. Development in close proximity to wastewater treatment works can suffer from smells that are inherent in the treatment process.

Residential development, such as gypsy and traveller sites, without essential utility provision i.e. water supply and/or located in close proximity to a wastewater treatment works cannot be considered sustainable. Development must be sustainable to be consistent with national planning policy PPS1.

Furthermore, paragraph 4.45 of PPS 12 requires that, to be deliverable and therefore effective, core strategies should be based on sound infrastructure planning. This omission from policy LNH6 is clearly contrary to PPS 12.