RAPID extends its reach with PR24 final determinations

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) has published an update on its approach in light of the PR24 final determinations. This allowed up to £2.15bn to continue the development of strategically important infrastructure, including funding to develop ten new solutions.

RAPID confirmed there are now 28 Strategic Resource Option schemes under its gated process:

• 18 existing projects.

• Four added at the draft determination stage: Broad Oak reservoir; Lower Thames to West London Reservoir (formerly Teddington to Queen Mary Transfer); Kielder Transfer; and Bacton Desalination.

• Six added at final determination: Nottingham Mine Water SRO; West Midlands Raw Water Storage; North Suffolk Reservoir; New Arlington Reservoir; Rudyard Augmentation; and Mablethorpe Desalination.

  
  

In addition, RAPID has identified a further five schemes that would benefit from its oversight, but which do not need to enter the full gated process and will be subject to normal planning and consenting requirements: Aylesford and Ford Water Recycling; Colchester Water Recycling; Lowestoft Water Recycling; Sandown Water Recycling; and Sittingbourne Water Recycling. 

Elsewhere in the document, RAPID set out: 

• Its approach to smaller resource options and ensuring alignment to the large scheme gated process. 

• Amendments to gate one and gate two expectations given changes to expenditure allowances in the final determinations.

• The development of options to incentivise the delivery of in-house solutions.