Other stories from last week

(by Karma Loveday)

Environment secretary Dame Angela Eagle has selected Lisa Tennant as the Government’s preferred candidate to succeed Alan Lovell as chair of the Environment Agency. Tennant currently serves as chair of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and chair of the NHS Pension Board for England and Wales, and is the Regional Energy Strategic Plan chair for Scotland at the National Energy System Operator. Her former roles include as a non executive director at CC Water. Subject to a successful pre-appointment hearing with the EFRA and Environmental Audit Committees on 11 November, she will take up post on 1 January. 

S&P has downgraded Thames Water and its Class A debt to CCC- from CCC on the back of the company’s plans to extend upcoming debt maturities and to increase the maximum amount available under a super senior facility by £2.4bn to £5.4bn. This is in an effort to secure liquidity to Autumn 2027. Class B debt was downgraded to C from CC. There is a negative outlook, reflecting that S&P could view the moves, if there is not adequate compensation to creditors, as a default.

The Office for Environmental Protection has raised concerns about Natural England’s first draft Environmental Delivery Plan, which aims to enable housebuilding in Norfolk by progressing nature conservation measures that outweigh the negative effect of development. While it welcomed the intent, the OEP said there is insufficient evidence that the intended outcomes for nature will be achieved. It urged Natural England to consider in more detail:

• The reliance on compensation instead of nutrient mitigation. 

• The potential time lag between the negative effects of the development and the positive effects of the conservation measures.

• The limited analysis of the spatial relationship between conservation measures and affected environmental features. 

• The limited detail on monitoring, back-up measures and long-term course correction mechanisms. 

MOSL has published its first five-year strategy, for 2027-32. This sets out sets out four strategic priorities to guide its work over the next five years:

• Market performance: optimising market processes and frameworks to help the market thrive.

• Market systems: modernising and integrating systems to improve efficiency and resilience.

• Smart transition: supporting the market in unlocking the value from smart meter data.

• Water security: enabling the overall reduction of business water demand and improved resilience through market forces.

The strategy will commence as the market reaches the milestone of ten years of operation. MOSL is cognisant of the significant uncertainty surrounding water sector reform and retains the flexibility to respond as the future regulatory and policy landscape becomes clearer.

The Anglian Water @One Alliance has strengthened its executive leadership team with new appointments, as it works to deliver the company’s £3bn AMP8 programme. Bryan Kennedy has been appointed water delivery director; Karl Wolski promoted to water recycling delivery director – East; and Paul Birch appointed as commercial director.

Business Stream has partnered with The Purpose Coalition’s Purpose Labs to deliver a six-month programme aimed at understanding the next generation’s attitudes towards water use and water scarcity, while showcasing career opportunities across the industry. Through a series of monthly sessions, university and college-level STEM students will have the opportunity to share their perspectives directly with industry professionals, while gaining paid experience and career insights. The initiative places particular focus on students from socio-economically deprived areas. The partnership forms part of Business Stream’s wider social value activity and is aligned to its vision to Make A Positive Difference to its customers, people, the environment and local communities. 

Defra has published guidance for developers and maintaining bodies on the funding of communal sustainable drainage systems in new developments in England. It covers how to agree responsibilities; how to calculate commuted sums for whole-life costs; risk management; and long-term monitoring.