Anglian unveils green recovery plan but warns: ‘‘We can’t do this alone.’’

Anglian Water last week published a five-point plan to enable a green recovery. It seeks to build social and environmental prosperity across the East of England by being a conduit for green growth, job creation and partnership working.

The plan outlined the company's ambition across five main areas, and for each set out the company’s own track record and commitments, and what it would like to see from policymakers, regulators and other partners to support delivery.

The five areas, together with some of the related things the company wants to see, were:

• becoming a net zero carbon business – by 2030, supported by mandatory water efficiency product labelling and acceleration of its smart meter/network programme;

• accelerating sustainable housing and infrastructure growth – including water smart communities and water neutral developments, and supported by a planning system that helps resolve water and flood risk challenges;

• creating green jobs and boosting skills – supported by a ten-year strategy for the Apprenticeship Levy;

• delivering climate change adaptation and development – a resilient East of England, enabled by regulatory settlements that address the long term climate challenge; and

• enabling nature recovery – supported by early approval of amber Water Industry National Environment Plan schemes and a national water savings target beyond just household consumption.

Chief executive, Peter Simpson, said: “As a company with a clear purpose at its core – to enhance the social and environmental prosperity of the region we serve – this five-point plan is our opportunity to set out the commitments we are making to support a green recovery, based on our own track record of sustainability, but also the future we want to see by working in partnership with others. We simply can't do this alone.”