The board builds on the foundations laid by Ofwatâs Enabling Water Smart Communities (EWSC) project and responds to the growing national need for collaborative solutions to tackle water scarcity, infrastructure capacity challenges and climateârelated pressures.
The WSGB will bring together senior leaders from government, the housing sector, water industry, regulators, environmental bodies, academia and practitioners to provide strategic oversight and coordination to ensure that new homes are âwater smartâ, that they are resilient, waterâefficient and supported by the right infrastructure and water management solutions that work for housing delivery, people and nature.
Speaking at the EWSC closing event this week, EWSC chair Jean Spencer said, âDelivering the homes the country needs requires us to think differently about water: how we plan for it, how we use it, and how we build resilience into our communities.Â
âThe Water Smart Growth Board brings together the right partners to tackle these challenges collectively. By aligning the housing and water sectors, we can ensure that new development is not only sustainable but also future-proofed for the pressures of climate change and population growth.â
The WSGB will be linked to the Governmentâs Water Delivery Taskforce with a view to the creation, maintenance and oversight of a national roadmap for integrated water management in new housing developments. It will support policy development and implementation across water and housing that contributes towards, or removes barriers to, sustainable housing delivery. It will strengthen knowledge and skills among all stakeholders involved in building new homes, and will establishing a 'community of practiceâ to share good practice and feedback on policy and implementation challenges and opportunities.
Rob Boughton, CEO of housebuilder Thakeham and coâchair of the Water Smart Growth Board, said: âDevelopers, government, and the water sector have a shared responsibility to deliver sustainable communities. The WSGB creates a forum for collaboration and practical delivery. By working together in areas like water efficiency, reuse and SuDS, we can unlock housing growth whilst protecting and improving our water resources.â