The provision of infrastructure is important in all major new developments. Infrastructure includes services like education and health facilities as well as road, water supply and sewers. Although no major problems are envisaged in provision of services in the District to meet the needs of proposed development, there are inadequacies in the water services infrastructure particularly in the rural areas. Improvements and extensions to the services may therefore be necessary, particularly in respect of water services and contributions from developers to the appropriate organisations such as Wessex Water for such works as may be required. In addition, services have been upgraded throughout the District in the past few years. British Gas has made a substantial investment in improving the supply network that supports West Wiltshire. Further extension of the system is planned to Warminster and works have already been carried out in Trowbridge, Melksham, and Westbury.

In West Wiltshire there are public foul sewers which are at or near capacity and where additional development would result in overloading of the local sewerage network. There also remain many areas without a public sewerage network. Development should not proceed without adequate foul water disposal arrangements. Where it is intended that a development will be drained through a public sewer, developers should seek prior agreement with the appropriate drainage authority on the point of connection to the sewerage system. In areas where there are existing public sewers, all development should connect to the main sewer network and sewers should be constructed to a standard adoptable by the drainage authority. Where connection to main foul drainage is not feasible or practical then alternative means of sewage disposal will be required, which may involve a package treatment plant or a septic tank. Consideration of the choice, suitability and future monitoring and record keeping of such methods must be on a site specific basis in accordance with DETR Circular 03/99.

There are known problems with the disposal of surface water in the District. The District Council will ensure that new development does not overload the existing infrastructure or cause flooding problems Sustainable Drainage Systems for surface water disposal incorporate such methods as swales, soakage lagoons, reed beds, retention basins and permeable paving. These methods can have considerable environmental benefits, including reducing the risk of flooding, cleaning contaminants, retaining rainfall close to source, providing wildlife and ecological amenity and improving the aesthetic quality of development. The District Council will therefore expect proposals for development to include an assessment of the suitability of Sustainable Drainage Systems.

It is recognised that traditional “hard” sewerage systems continue to play a part in the provision of surface water infrastructure, however, this method should only be utilised once it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the drainage authority that other methods would not be successful. In these circumstances, it is important to ensure that surface water will not be discharged into public foul sewers, since these would cause overloading and premature operation of storm overflows to the detriment of river water quality. New development will therefore be required to drain to separate surface water drainage systems.

The Environment Agency supports the principle of river corridor enhancement in conjunction with promoting adequate flood protection measures. The Environment Agency will be concerned to ensure that flood flows and floodplain storage are not adversely affected by development proposals. Development will not be permitted in floodplains, and the Environment Agency will be concerned to ensure that development in flood risk areas is promoted in such a way as to minimise the increase of flood risk to third parties and to be protected to the standard of 1 in 100 year flood. Development proposals will be assessed having regard to the risk based approach and sequential test set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25:Development and Flood Risk. The Environment Agency has undertaken a survey in West Wiltshire to define indicative areas of flood risk under Section 105 of the Water Resources Act 1991. These areas are shown on the Proposals Map. The Environment Agency considers that many development proposals may be affected by its statutory powers, and potential developers are advised to consult closely with the Environment Agency prior to planning permission being sought.

It is vital that development does not cause harm to the quality or quantity of water resources. Development must be accompanied by adequate sewage infrastructure, in order to avoid pollution by sewage, sewage effluent, industrial wastes or surface water. There are a number of areas where potable water is abstracted within West Wiltshire and groundwater source protection zones are shown on the Proposals Map.  The recharge, flow and storage of ground water must be protected from any form of development that would cause interruption to natural processes, or interfere with any water abstraction. The Local Planning Authority is concerned that all ground and surface waters must be protected from risk of pollution and physical interference. Developers are recommended to contact the Environment Agency at the earliest stage to discuss any potential impact of their development proposals on groundwater source catchment areas.

Since water privatisation, Wessex Water is responsible for sewage treatment and disposal. Sewage treatment works are an essential requirement for servicing the community. The requirements for sewage treatment works need to be identified and planned for to enable them to meet demand, and minimise the environmental effects of such uses. In order to service the housing and employment allocations in the Melksham and Semington area, Wessex Water have identified a need to extend the Bowerhill Sewage Treatment Works. A site adjacent to the northern side of the current works has been identified for the extension, as shown on the Proposals Map.

Telecommunications are an essential and beneficial element of modern day life and the national economy. Much of the telephone network within the District is long established. New communications technology is now spreading rapidly, required to meet the growing demand in the area for better communications at work and at home, in business and in public services. The District Council recognises this growing demand for new telecommunications apparatus, in particular satellite dishes, and operates a scheme on Council owned blocks of flats assisting the installation of shared systems.