Environment Agency water resource lead to head regulatory infrastructure alliance

Paul Hickey, deputy director, water resources, at the Environment Agency, is to head up the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID).

RAPID is a new regulatory team that works on behalf of Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate to promote the development of national water resources infrastructure.

RAPID is charged with developing regulatory and commercial frameworks for joint infrastructure projects (or supporting industry development of the latter); providing oversight of project progress to ensure development of options in a timely and co-ordinated way; and acting as the principal regulatory interface with the industry on such projects, including through the gated development and funding process established through PR19.