defra Archives - Water Magazine

UK and France pledge joint funding for international biodiversity

Government, Policy & Regulation 14 July, 2025

Following the UK-France Summit and the State Visit of President Macron, the UK and France have committed joint financial support for the International Advisory...

Water Minister & Environment Agency to face Committee questions on flood risk

Government, Policy & Regulation 9 July, 2025

The Environmental Audit Committee will wrap up its inquiry into flood resilience in England on Wednesday 9 July, by hearing from the Environment Agency...

Largest ever budget for tackling water pollution handed to the Environment Agency

Government, Policy & Regulation 8 July, 2025

The largest ever budget for tackling water pollution has been handed to the country’s water watchdog, as part of the government’s plan to deliver...

Environment Agency sets out strategy for next 5 years and beyond following £189m boost to funding

Government, Policy & Regulation 8 July, 2025

The Environment Agency (EA) has today (8 July 2025) set out its strategy for the next five years and beyond. The strategy 'EA2030 change for...

Members reappointed to National Park Authority and National Landscape boards

Appointments & People 3 July, 2025

A series of reappointments have been made to the boards of the North York Moors National Park Authority (NPA) and the Cotswolds Conservation Board. Abida...

Tenfold increase for customer compensation when they’ve been failed by water companies

Government, Policy & Regulation 2 July, 2025

The UK government has announced that from today (2 July 2025), water companies will increase compensation payments to customers up to tenfold. Customers will automatically...

Funding for Environment Agency farm inspections to double as part of a major boost to cut agricultural pollution

Government, Policy & Regulation 2 July, 2025

The government has announced that funding for Environment Agency farm inspections is doubling as part of a wider drive to help farmers slash agricultural...

David Hill appointed as Interim Defra Permanent Secretary

Appointments & People 1 July, 2025

David Hill has been appointed as Interim Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. David’s term will begin on 30 June 2025 and will run...

UK government gathers business and environment leaders in support of UN nature agreement

Government, Policy & Regulation 27 June, 2025

The UK brought together foreign governments, Indigenous leaders, as well as leaders from business and finance representing trillions of pounds, to increase the flows...

Two new Water (Special Measures) Act measures come into force this week

Government, Policy & Regulation 24 June, 2025

Two new legal requirements have come into force this week as part of the Water (Special Measures) Act, which received Royal Assent earlier this...

Thames Water may be required to restate its financial accounts for the year ended March 2024

Government, Policy & Regulation 23 June, 2025

According to a report by the Financial Times on Friday, Thames Water may be required to restate its financial accounts for the year ended...

Thames Water’s Oxfordshire reservoir secures nationally significant infrastructure status

Government, Policy & Regulation 20 June, 2025

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,...

Feargal Sharkey discusses the UK’s water woes with Toby Perkins MP in latest Committee Corridor podcast

Insight & Opinion 20 June, 2025

The latest episode of Committee Corridor, out this week, sees host Toby Perkins MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, sit down with...

Government to invest over £100m in water company fines to local environmental projects

Government, Policy & Regulation 19 June, 2025

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...

Government updates national standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems for the first time in a decade

Government, Policy & Regulation 19 June, 2025

In a move to tackle water pollution and protect communities from flooding, the government is updating the national standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)...

Almost £8 billion to be invested in flood defences over the next decade

Government, Policy & Regulation 17 June, 2025

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...

Government agrees to publish faster response to OEP assessment, following pressure from the Environmental Audit Committee

Government, Policy & Regulation 13 June, 2025

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...

Environment Secretary Steve Reed champions private investment in nature recovery as the government launches a new call for evidence

Government, Policy & Regulation 13 June, 2025

Speaking to leading figures from financial institutions, property, retail and sustainability sectors at a roundtable event in London yesterday (12 June 2025), the Environment...

Rachel Reeves cuts Defra spending, but allocates extra funding for flood defences and nature recovery

Government, Policy & Regulation 12 June, 2025

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...

Water sector regulation to be scrutinised by Public Accounts Committee

Government, Policy & Regulation 9 June, 2025

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...

Anglian Water responds to bonus ban saying it fully supports financial reward being tightly linked to company performance

Water Company News 9 June, 2025

Anglian Water has responded to the government's new ban on bonuses for water company executives, saying it fully supports financial reward being tightly linked...

Government’s new law sees unfair bonuses banned for six water companies with immediate effect

Government, Policy & Regulation 6 June, 2025

Bonuses have been banned for senior executives at six water companies, as new measures in the Water (Special Measures) Act come into force today...

National Drought Group meets after driest spring in 132 years

Government, Policy & Regulation 6 June, 2025

The Environment Agency convened a National Drought Group meeting yesterday (5 June 2025) to discuss the latest outlook and hear from water companies about...

Defra launches consultation on flood and coastal erosion funding rules

Government, Policy & Regulation 6 June, 2025

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...

Government funds scheme to tackle on-farm drought risk

Government, Policy & Regulation 5 June, 2025

The Environment Agency has launched applications for a new round of specialist water assessments supporting farmer groups to collaborate on drought resilience measures and...

New proposals to accelerate the construction of flood schemes have been unveiled

Government, Policy & Regulation 4 June, 2025

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...

Drought declared in north-west of England

Government, Policy & Regulation 30 May, 2025

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...

Environment Secretary Steve Reed takes control of the planning process for two new reservoirs

Government, Policy & Regulation 29 May, 2025

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...

Why water safety training matters

Industry News 27 May, 2025

Working near water is hazardous. If employees are unequipped with the knowledge, training, and equipment needed to respond effectively in an emergency—either involving themselves...

Government Taskforce meets on Merseyside to bolster nation’s flood resilience

Government, Policy & Regulation 22 May, 2025

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...

Record 81 criminal investigations launched into water companies under Government crackdown

Government, Policy & Regulation 21 May, 2025

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed a record total of 81 criminal investigations into water companies have been launched...

Steve Reed says Thames Water’s attempt to circumvent the ban on executive bonuses by renaming them was the “wrong thing to do”

Government, Policy & Regulation 20 May, 2025

During the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee session on the morning of May 20, 2025, Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP addressed concerns...

Government responds to OEP report on the Environmental Principles Policy Statement

Government, Policy & Regulation 20 May, 2025

The government has said it welcomes the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP’s) report ‘A review of implementation of the duty to have due regard...

EFRA Committee to quiz Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed, about Thames Water situation

Government, Policy & Regulation 19 May, 2025

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA), which is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of...

Polluting water bosses face up to two years in prison

Government, Policy & Regulation 25 April, 2025

Water company bosses could face up to two years in prison due to new powers in force today, Friday 25 April 2025. The new powers,...

Regulators have failed to deliver a trusted and resilient water sector, says the National Audit Office

Government, Policy & Regulation 25 April, 2025

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and water regulators have failed to drive necessary investment for the sector in the past...

Second reading of the Chalk Steams (Protection) Bill to take place in Parliament this week

Government, Policy & Regulation 22 April, 2025

The second reading of the Chalk Streams (Protection) Bill, which will give chalk streams an enhanced status to protect them from pollution and environmental...

Environment Secretary Steve Reed announces major reforms to environmental regulation

Government, Policy & Regulation 3 April, 2025

Major reforms to environmental regulation have been announced by Environment Secretary Steve Reed, which he says will create a more dynamic, streamlined approach to help...

OEP welcomes decision in Pickering Fishery Association case on water quality laws

Government, Policy & Regulation 3 April, 2025

The Office for Environmental Protection says it welcomes yesterday's (Wednesday, 2 April) Court of Appeal decision on the correct interpretation of the law to...

Environment Secretary describes the number of spills from storm overflows as “disgraceful” after new figures released

Government, Policy & Regulation 28 March, 2025

The Environment Secretary has described the number of spills from storm overflows as “disgraceful” as new figures were released by the Environment Agency yesterday...

Tony Juniper CBE reappointed as Chair of Natural England for a third term

Appointments & People 24 March, 2025

The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, confirmed on Monday 24th March that Tony Juniper CBE has been reappointed as Chair of Natural England for a...

OEP launches investigation into possible failures by Defra and the Environment Agency to comply with key laws to protect and improve water quality

Government, Policy & Regulation 21 March, 2025

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has launched an investigation into possible failures by Defra and the Environment Agency to comply with the Water...

River Thames Lock Keepers set for strike vote over safety fears, GMB warns Government

Government, Policy & Regulation 18 March, 2025

River Thames weir and lock keepers are set to ballot for industrial action over safety concerns, GMB has warned the Government. In a letter...

Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy, visits North Cave Wetlands to see how nature-based solutions help flooding

Government, Policy & Regulation 14 March, 2025

The North Cave Wetlands nature reserve was the final location on the nationwide ‘Things Can Only Get Cleaner’ water tour by Defra Ministers. Minister for...

Aardman film spotlights groundwater flooding in new national initiative

Environmental News 14 March, 2025

Aardman, the multi-award-winning studio behind the beloved Wallace & Gromit franchise, has partnered with a national initiative to highlight the devastating impact of groundwater...

Environment Secretary Steve Reed visits Cambridge to discuss the region’s urgent water needs

Government, Policy & Regulation 14 March, 2025

Environment Secretary Steve Reed met with key stakeholders in Cambridge to discuss the region’s urgent water needs. Without urgent investment in water infrastructure and demand...

Residents across the North East of England to benefit from investment in “smart sewers” that reduce sewage spills

Government, Policy & Regulation 13 March, 2025

Residents across the North East of England are benefiting from investment in “smart sewers” that use cutting-edge technology to reduce sewage spills and clean...

UK and Welsh Government unite in £1m fund to transform River Wye

Government, Policy & Regulation 11 March, 2025

The Welsh and UK Government have announced a new £1 million joint research initiative to tackle water quality issues in the River Wye. The Welsh...

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