Is water neutrality good enough?

Natural England's September 2021 position statement effectively stops any development that is likely to increase water abstraction from the Adur catchment, but is this good enough?  Consider the key indicator species Anisus vorticulus, which has been affected to the point of extinction in the Arun Valley Special Area of Conservation.  (See, for example, the Arun Valley and Water Neutrality - FAQs - Developers.) 

As this is the current status quo then, logically, it follows that current levels of abstraction may still be leading to species decline, and what's needed is a reduction in current consumption levels, not maintaining the current level!  We councillors have some interesting times ahead...