LATEST NEWSGovernment, Policy & Regulation

Government, Policy & Regulation

Government publishes decade long Infrastructure Strategy to transform how infrastructure projects are planned and delivered

The Government has published a 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy which it says will deliver on its growth mission, as part of the Plan for...
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2nd reading of the Chalk Streams Bill is due in Parliament today

A 2nd reading of the Chalk Streams Bill is due in Parliament today (20 June, 2025). The Private Members’ Bill was introduced by Liberal Democrat...
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Thames Water’s Oxfordshire reservoir secures nationally significant infrastructure status

Thames Water has secured Government backing to progress a planning application for its 150 billion litre (150 Mm3) reservoir, situated near Abingdon in Oxfordshire. Environment Secretary,...
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Despite rain and thunderstorms in the last few days Scotland’s rivers are still under stress

Despite rain and thunderstorms in the last few days, large parts of Scotland remain at some level of water scarcity. With summer just beginning,...
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Government to invest over £100m in water company fines to local environmental projects

The Government has announced it will invest water company fines into local projects across the country to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.  Over...
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Government updates national standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems for the first time in a decade

In a move to tackle water pollution and protect communities from flooding, the government is updating the national standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)...
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Ofwat proposes additional security for PR24 schemes above £100m

Ofwat has launched a consultation setting out its proposed approach for additional scrutiny for large schemes during the 2025-30 control period. Large schemes are those...
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Independent panel tasked with reviewing environmental governance in Northern Ireland publishes interim report

An independent panel tasked with reviewing environmental governance in Northern Ireland has published its interim report. The interim report from the panel, which was appointed...
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RAPID action on major water infrastructure is securing supply for future generations

To address the forecast water shortfall of 5 billion litres per day by 2055 as outlined in the EA’s National Framework for Water Resources...
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Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell visits Hampshire coast

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell visited the Hampshire coast on 16 June 2025 to review draft proposals for protecting a 15km stretch of coastline...
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Almost £8 billion to be invested in flood defences over the next decade

The largest flooding programme in history will be announced by government this week, with a record £7.9 billion committed over ten years to protect...
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EFRA Committee to question Sir Jon Cunliffe on reform of water sector today

The Chair of the Independent Water Commission, Sir Jon Cunliffe, will be questioned by Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in an evidence session...
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Ofwat proposes new regulatory basis to drive companies to better understand and improve their asset management maturity

To extract the most value out of their assets, Ofwat wants to encourage water companies to improve their approaches to strategic planning, decision making...
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‘Failing’ water sector needs ‘root and branch reform’ to address culture that is ‘deaf’ to ‘crisis’, says EFRA Committee

A failing water sector in which “water companies increasingly look like financial institutions rather than businesses servicing monopolised critical infrastructure” is in need of...
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Government agrees to publish faster response to OEP assessment, following pressure from the Environmental Audit Committee

The Government has agreed to accelerate publishing its response to the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) annual assessment report, following pressure from the Environmental...
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Environment Secretary Steve Reed champions private investment in nature recovery as the government launches a new call for evidence

Speaking to leading figures from financial institutions, property, retail and sustainability sectors at a roundtable event in London yesterday (12 June 2025), the Environment...
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River conditions show importance of ongoing monitoring in Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is warning that despite rain in most of the country, current river flow monitoring shows sustained local pressure...
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Yorkshire becomes the second region in England to enter drought status

Yorkshire has become the second region in England to enter drought status following the driest spring in 132 years.   The Environment Agency announced the change...
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Rachel Reeves cuts Defra spending, but allocates extra funding for flood defences and nature recovery

The Spending Review 2025 was presented to Parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, yesterday (Wednesday 11 June 2025). Most departments will gain...
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Ofwat upholds Severn Trent’s decision not to grant consent to Amazon for it to discharge trade effluent for treatment at Branton WWTW

Ofwat has made a final determination of an appeal made by Amazon UK Services Limited, relating to Severn Trent Water Limited's refusal to grant...
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NI Fiscal Council says Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage needs greater investment, even if it’s “politically unpalatable”

A new report by the NI Fiscal Council highlights a growing crisis in the provision of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. The report...
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Government to legislate for High Seas Treaty by end of year

The Government will introduce a bill to enable ratification of the High Seas Treaty designed to protect marine life around the globe by the...
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Thames Water admits to £18.5m bonus payments despite new rules

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has published a response from Sir Adrian Montague, Chair of Thames Water, which discloses that bonus payments...
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Consultation launched on Northern Ireland Climate Adaptation Programme

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched an eight week public consultation to seek views on the draft Third...
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Water sector regulation to be scrutinised by Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold an evidence session on regulating the water sector at 3.30pm today (Monday 9 June, 2025). Consumer trust in...
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Philip Duffy writes to Ofwat regarding water industry category 1 incidents in relation to performance related pay rules

The Environment Agency's Chief Executive, Philip Duffy, has written to Ofwat regarding water industry category 1 incidents in 2024, in relation to performance related...
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European Commission launches strategy to enhance water security for people, economy and environment

The European Commission has announced the adoption of the European Water Resilience Strategy which sets out a common European vision for water resilience. The aim...
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Government’s new law sees unfair bonuses banned for six water companies with immediate effect

Bonuses have been banned for senior executives at six water companies, as new measures in the Water (Special Measures) Act come into force today...
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National Drought Group meets after driest spring in 132 years

The Environment Agency convened a National Drought Group meeting yesterday (5 June 2025) to discuss the latest outlook and hear from water companies about...
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Relief in the west of Scotland, but water scarcity risk remains in the east

Despite recent heavy rain, Scotland's long-term water scarcity pressures remain after one of the driest starts to the year for decades. The latest water scarcity...
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Defra launches consultation on flood and coastal erosion funding rules

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on flood and coastal erosion funding rules. 6.3 million homes and businesses in...
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Northumbrian Water agrees to pay £15.7m enforcement package following Ofwat wastewater investigation

Ofwat has concluded its investigation into Northumbrian Water securing an enforcement package of £15.7m to be paid by the wastewater company and their shareholders,...
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Government funds scheme to tackle on-farm drought risk

The Environment Agency has launched applications for a new round of specialist water assessments supporting farmer groups to collaborate on drought resilience measures and...
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Environmental Standards Scotland asks for views on new five-year Strategy

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) has launched a public consultation on a draft of its new Strategy that will set the direction of work for the...
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New proposals to accelerate the construction of flood schemes have been unveiled

New proposals to accelerate the construction of flood schemes and protect thousands of homes and businesses in the nation’s cities and rural areas from...
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New Bill introduced to the Senedd Cymru proposes to establish an Office of Environmental Governance in Wales

Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister of Wales and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, has introduced a Bill to the Senedd...
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Independent Water Commission publishes interim findings

The interim findings from the Independent Water Commission have been published today (Tuesday 3 June) ahead of its final report this summer. Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of...
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Scotland’s bathing water season opens on 10th anniversary of first samples taken under the revised Bathing Water Directive

Scotland’s bathing water season began on 1st June and 2025, marking the 10th anniversary of the first samples taken under the revised Bathing Water...
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Yorkshire Water fined £350,000 after one of its sewage pumping stations polluted a York watercourse

Following an investigation by the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Friday 30 May for sentencing for two offences –...
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Ofwat launches consultation on rules for bulk charges for new appointees

Ofwat has launched a consultation setting out its proposal to issue new rules for incumbent English water companies to comply with, when setting their...
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Drought declared in north-west of England

The Environment Agency has declared drought status for the north-west of England following the driest start to spring in 69 years. River flows have been...
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Water scarcity concern remains for much of Scotland despite recent rainfall

Following rainfall at the beginning of the week, some parts of Scotland have seen temporary improvements in water conditions. However, the Scottish Environment Protection...
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Environment Secretary Steve Reed takes control of the planning process for two new reservoirs

The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, has today taken control of the planning process for two new reservoirs, in an intervention to speed up delivery. Anglian...
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Ofwat fines Thames Water nearly £123m following two investigations

Ofwat has announced the final decision in two investigations looking into the operations of Thames Water, who will face penalties totalling £122.7m. The water industry...
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EFRA Committee wants answers from Thames Water’s Chair and CEO regarding “paused” bonuses

The EFRA Committee, which is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of Defra, has written separately to...
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Prolonged dry conditions increase water scarcity across Scotland

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has confirmed that Scotland’s water scarcity situation is worsening, with a further decline in river levels following another...
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NRW steps up action in response to prolonged dry weather

Following the extended period of warm and dry weather, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has confirmed that the trigger thresholds have been met to move...
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Government Taskforce meets on Merseyside to bolster nation’s flood resilience

Bolstering the nation’s resilience to flooding, including in Merseyside, was top of the agenda as the Government’s national Floods Resilience Taskforce convened in Aintree...
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