Newsletter September 2026

The Broads SAC Sustainable Abstraction Plan

We are undertaking a review of water abstraction licences across The Broads Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in East Anglia to achieve sustainable abstraction and to protect The Broads SAC.

Keeping you informed – September 2026 Newsletter

We continue to provide project updates on a quarterly basis. Future newsletter content will be shared through the ‘News feed’ section of this Engagement platform, making it easier to access the latest project information alongside other news and updates.

Modelling update

We continue to refine the model so that it best represents the environmental scenarios and we are carrying out a series of iterative scenarios which will test how changing licence quantities might help achieve the environmental targets set by Natural England.

Scenarios include, but are not limited to:

  • Reducing or removing abstraction quantities on those groundwater licences identified as most likely to require changes.
  • Applying a consistent reduction in authorised quantities across a larger number of groundwater licences.
  • Reducing authorised quantities across a wider range of groundwater licences in line with each licence's contribution to the environmental impact.

These model runs will help us evaluate the least onerous licence change scenario to take forward for The Broads SAC. We will continue to communicate our understanding and development of scenarios to all licence holders affected by this work and will continue to engage with Norfolk Environment, Food and Farming (NEFF) and other abstractor groups. From April 2027, we will decide upon a final scenario for The Broads SAC that will achieve compliance towards the environmental targets.

Licence Applications

As mentioned in our June newsletter, we have been able to start determining licence applications where we can confirm there is no risk of adverse effect on The Broads SAC. We are working with the National Permitting Service to progress these as soon as possible as well as continuing to progress new high flow surface water applications.

Following the extension of the project timeline earlier this year, we will contact all applicants to agree revised determination dates.

Continued conversations with Norfolk Environment Food and Farming (NEFF)

We continue to meet with NEFF regularly, working with them and taking their views and feedback into consideration as the project develops. We understand that NEFF brings together perspectives from its membership, and we encourage an ongoing two-way flow of information so that our updates are shared with members and their views continue to inform our discussions.

Forward look

The modelling will improve our understanding of those groundwater licence holders who might be impacted and we will keep all licence holders and interested stakeholders informed through written updates or, where necessary, one-to-one conversations. Please contact us if you would like to specifically discuss the project or your existing licence/application.

We are planning engagement with surface water abstraction licence holders in March 2027, supporting a more joined-up and consistent approach across the catchment.

As soon as we are aware that there are licences no longer under investigation, we will contact licence holders to confirm no licence changes are required under the scope of The Broads Plan.

We will keep our Engagement platform updated with project developments and welcome suggestions for future content.

When will we receive further updates? 

Our next newsletter will be uploaded to our Engagement platform under the ‘News feed’ section in December 2026. If you have subscribed to our newsletter notification list, we will continue to send you an email to announce this publication. If you would like to subscribe to a notification, please email us.

How can I contact the Environment Agency? 

Please direct any enquiries relating to the Environment Agency’s work in the Ant Valley or The Broads SAC, to the Sustainable Abstraction Project Team inbox, by emailing SustainableAbstractionProjects@environment-agency.gov.uk