Homes scheme water shortage fear

A hosepipe ban was introduced in parts of Kent this month

Water shortages could be a major problem if plans for thousands of new homes in Kent go ahead, an environmental group has warned.

The South East England Regional Assembly (Seera) recommended this week that 578,000 new homes be built in the South East between 2006 and 2026.

As many as 120,000 would be in Kent, an average of 6,000 built each year.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said Kent would need "magic taps" to cope with increased demand.

Seera's suggestions would see an average of 28,900 new homes built in the South East each year over the next two decades.

'Creaking at seams'

Building would happen in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.

In Kent about 2,400 houses a year are set to be built in the Thames Gateway, with the same number in the Ashford area, and around 1,200 a year more dotted around the rest of the county.

Seera has proposed building 120,000 homes in Kent by 2026

The Kent branch of the CPRE has voiced concern at the news, claiming there will not be enough water to supply the new homes, particularly if temperatures continue to rise, causing water to evaporate and higher demand in hot weather.

A hosepipe ban was introduced in part of the county earlier this month.

Dr Hilary Newport, director of CPRE Kent, said: "It is obvious that water is already scarce in Kent.

"Kent is already creaking at the seams, an addition of 120,000 dwellings is more than we can cope with.

"Sadly we cannot create a magic tap that will flow without fail in Kent."

Both Seera and local water firms have insisted that there will be no supply problems and the creation of a new reservoir near Canterbury has been suggested.