Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 15 June 2026.
Rosie Duffield
Independent, Canterbury
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of new housing developments on water infrastructure in Canterbury.
Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Water companies, including South East Water, are under a statutory duty to produce Water Resources Management Plans and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans.
In response to Canterbury’s Local Plan consultation, the Environment Agency has recommended close liaison between the Authority and South East Water to ensure that planned housing growth is located where additional water is available to supply new development and that the phasing of that development occurs in line with any planned delivery of water supply infrastructure by the Water Company.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.