(by Karma Loveday) Natural England has published for consultation until 27 October the first Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) deploying the new Nature Restoration Fund. The scheme will see developers fund large scale improvements to rivers and wetlands in Norfolk to more than offset the nutrient pollution that will be created by the construction and habitation of 15,780 new homes in the county. Instead of remediating impact at site level, developers will pay a levy which Nat

(by Karma Loveday) The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) reported the largest ever year-on-year increase in customer complaints, against the backdrop of steep bill rises. Household complaints to water companies climbed by 56% to 321,347 in 2025-26 from 205,853 in 2024-25. Complaints escalated to CCW surged by 84% in 2025-26, up to 15,115 from 8,235 in the previous year. The watchdog said the sharp rise was primarily linked to costs and bills: complaints to water firms about bi

(by Karma Loveday) Defra’s decision to exclude ownership models from the Independent Water Commission’s (IWC) remit looks set to be revisited by the new government. Water minister Emma Hardy told Parliament last week: “I have always wanted to introduce a water Bill that meets the political moment and the public appetite for change. I am delighted that it feels that we are closer to that. The change in prime minister has opened up options that were previously not available… mo

(by Karma Loveday) The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) is consulting until 13 October on its draft corporate plan for 2027-33, which will coincide with around £8bn of investment in water services planned under the Strategic Review of Charges for the same period. The plan identified four areas of focus for WICS – ensuring customers pay no more than necessary, holding Scottish Water to account, improving the non-household retail market and running WICS efficiently

(by Karma Loveday) The White Horse Reservoir Growth Coalition was launched last week at a Parliamentary event, to publicly back the £6.6bn reservoir and to call for it to be granted Critical National Priority status. This would put the project on a level playing field with nationally significant energy projects, helping to remove planning barriers and accelerate delivery. The coalition unites organisations from across the South East, spanning a range of sectors including tech

(by Karma Loveday) Devon & Cornwall and East Anglia are expected to still be in drought by the start of April 2027 under the most likely rainfall scenario. That was among the projections emerging from last week’s National Drought Group meeting, where the Environment Agency presented potential rainfall scenario data for the coming seven months. For all areas to come out of drought – that is when rivers, groundwaters and reservoirs are back to normal levels – we need another we

(by Karma Loveday) Ofwat is consulting until 16 October on mandating that wholesalers and retailers use the new Smart Meter Read (SMR) Hub by 7 December. The regulator is minded to accept code change proposals CPM064 and CPW165. These provide for: Making the SMR Hub a central market system, operated by MOSL and integrated with CMOS, to provide assurance that it will be managed under the established market framework. Mandating its use by wholesalers and retailers. Wholesalers

(by Verity Mitchell) The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee has published a report following its evidence gathering on what it emotively calls “the dire situation at Thames Water.” It urged that ministers should explore all options for the company, including using the Special Administration Regime (SAR) or fresh legislation, to “draw a line under this debacle and restore stability to the sector by putting Thames Water on a sound footing for new buyers

(by Karma Loveday) Four former Southern Water staff, including its 2011-2016 chief executive Matthew Wright, appeared in court on Friday charged with conspiracy to defraud – a common law offence carrying a maximum ten-year prison term. It is alleged that between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2017 the individuals conspired to defraud the Environment Agency and Ofwat through the implementation of artificial no-flow events at wastewater treatment works to manipulate the operato

(by Karma Loveday) Welsh Water has lifted the hosepipe ban that has been in place for around 33,000 properties across mid and south Ceredigion, parts of north Pembrokeshire and north Carmarthenshire. This followed recovery in treated water storage levels, and decreased demand linked to the ban, as well as to lower temperatures, increased rainfall and the end of the summer tourist season. The company thanked its customers for their contribution while the ban was in place. In E