Other stories from last week

(by Karma Loveday)

Anglian Water and Cambridge Water are running a third consultation on the Fens Reservoir, open until 10 December. The consultation includes an updated design for the main reservoir site which has taken account of feedback from earlier phases of consultation and features proposals for more water-based and land-based recreation and ideas that would provide views across the water. It also includes more information on the associated water treatment and transport infrastructure and provides a first look at road and rail options for visitors.

The Environment Agency is consulting until 5 December on an updated water resources planning guideline for England and on updated environmental destination planning guidance. 

The former document set out the guidance that Government and regulators expect water companies to follow when writing their statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). The Agency will publish a final version of this guideline in Spring 2026, ahead of the next round of plans which are due for public consultation in 2028, with final versions to be published over the winter of 2028/29. 

The environmental destination planning guidance set out how water companies and regional groups should go about assessing long-term environmental needs, to propose an environmental ‘destination’ for water resources in their areas.

The consultations noted the extensive changes proposed by the Independent Water Commission and Corry Review, but said the guidance is written without prejudice to any Government outcomes from these reviews.

The Environment Agency has issued six further drought permits to Yorkshire Water. These will last for six months and cover the North Group of reservoirs which are on tributaries of River Nidd, River Ure and River Wharfe. They permit the company to release less water to the rivers to maintain their health, preserving more in the reservoirs for public water supply. The Agency has already granted Yorkshire Water 37 permits for reservoirs in other parts of Yorkshire. 

Paul Kissack took up post last week as Defra’s permanent secretary. He was appointed in August and joins from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. 

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has closed its investigation into Defra's statutory guidance in applying Farming Rules for Water (FRfW) regulations. This follows the guidance being revised in June 2025. The new version reflects the FWfW regulations, the OEP said.

Yorkshire Water is recruiting 65 graduates, its largest cohort ever, to fill a range of roles to support the ongoing delivery of its £8.3bn investment programme.