As set out in the cabinet member decision, the creation of wetland areas will, in addition to improving the water quality of the River Lugg, positively contribute toward the delivery of the environmental and economic priorities within the County Plan 2020-2024; enhancing local biodiversity, enabling sustainable housing growth in the north of the county and reducing carbon emissions through carbon sequestration.

The benefits of wetlands within the context of this project is that they will allow the release of prospective housing development currently unable to complete the planning process because of phosphate load to affected watercourses. This will be of particular value in terms of the local construction economy and will support the delivery of established housing targets.

The council is progressing with the creation of phosphate-reducing wetland schemes at both Titley and Tarrington, and has acquired land accordingly. The drainage infrastructure described is an essential part of the system necessary to convey effluent from the waste water treatment works to the wetland site for treatment.