The Broads SAC - Sustainable Abstraction Plan

We are working to achieve sustainable levels of water abstraction within The Broads Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which will help to protect 28 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Water abstraction in East Anglia provides essential water for public water supply, agriculture and industry, but we know that too much abstraction, known as unsustainable abstraction, has a damaging impact on river flows and groundwater levels. Having the correct river flows and groundwater levels is essential to support healthy ecology, for enhancing natural resilience to drought, and ensuring that The Broads SAC continues to support wellbeing and recreation.

We have already investigated the impact of water abstraction on four SSSIs within the Ant Valley, which is a part of The Broads SAC. Following a judicial review in 2022, we were directed to extend our investigation to include an additional 24 SSSIs in The Broads SAC. We are now investigating all water abstraction licences within the Bure, Thurne, Yare, Waveney, Tud and part of the Wensum catchments. We have contacted all licence holders to tell them about our project and to explain that their licence might need to be changed to protect the additional 24 SSSIs.

A map showing our project consultation area and location of SSSIs with The Broads SAC.

What will the licence changes be?

We cannot confirm exactly which licences will need to be changed or what those changes might look like until we have completed our modelling assessments of current water abstraction activity, and any potential increases in abstraction that existing licences might allow in the future.

From May 2025 we will inform the licence holders whose current abstraction licence has been highlighted as being unsustainable. We will let them know if their licence is to be changed and we will discuss next steps, the timescales for changes and potential mitigation measures.

In line with our previous Ant Valley investigation, examples of the licence changes which could be required include:

  • reducing the daily or annual abstraction quantity

  • adding or increasing a ‘hands-off flow’ or ‘hands-off level’ restriction to your licence

  • adding a fish screen to your licence

  • revoking (cancelling) a licence

Where can I find out more?

There is more 'Information for licence holders' and other resources available on the right hand bar.

This Engagement HQ page will be regularly updated with project news and documents.


We are working to achieve sustainable levels of water abstraction within The Broads Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which will help to protect 28 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Water abstraction in East Anglia provides essential water for public water supply, agriculture and industry, but we know that too much abstraction, known as unsustainable abstraction, has a damaging impact on river flows and groundwater levels. Having the correct river flows and groundwater levels is essential to support healthy ecology, for enhancing natural resilience to drought, and ensuring that The Broads SAC continues to support wellbeing and recreation.

We have already investigated the impact of water abstraction on four SSSIs within the Ant Valley, which is a part of The Broads SAC. Following a judicial review in 2022, we were directed to extend our investigation to include an additional 24 SSSIs in The Broads SAC. We are now investigating all water abstraction licences within the Bure, Thurne, Yare, Waveney, Tud and part of the Wensum catchments. We have contacted all licence holders to tell them about our project and to explain that their licence might need to be changed to protect the additional 24 SSSIs.

A map showing our project consultation area and location of SSSIs with The Broads SAC.

What will the licence changes be?

We cannot confirm exactly which licences will need to be changed or what those changes might look like until we have completed our modelling assessments of current water abstraction activity, and any potential increases in abstraction that existing licences might allow in the future.

From May 2025 we will inform the licence holders whose current abstraction licence has been highlighted as being unsustainable. We will let them know if their licence is to be changed and we will discuss next steps, the timescales for changes and potential mitigation measures.

In line with our previous Ant Valley investigation, examples of the licence changes which could be required include:

  • reducing the daily or annual abstraction quantity

  • adding or increasing a ‘hands-off flow’ or ‘hands-off level’ restriction to your licence

  • adding a fish screen to your licence

  • revoking (cancelling) a licence

Where can I find out more?

There is more 'Information for licence holders' and other resources available on the right hand bar.

This Engagement HQ page will be regularly updated with project news and documents.


  • January & February 2025 Information Sessions

    06 Mar 2025
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    In January 2025 we held two in-person Information Days in Chedgrave and Acle. We were pleased to meet over 60 people with either abstraction licences in the project consultation area, or a keen interest in the project. We discussed the plan, current project timescales, and what it all means for existing licence holders. We also discussed what licence holders can do to prepare, and advised where further support is available. For those unable to attend in person we offered online Information Sessions, which were held in February 2025.

    We are currently modelling the water flows within the Broads SAC and analysing outputs. This will help us identify which water abstraction licences are unsustainable and will need changing. We will contact licence holders with unsustainable licences in May 2025.


Page last updated: 17 Apr 2025, 02:27 PM