RAPID looks to expand into wastewater, industrial hubs and SUDS at scale

(by Karma Loveday)

The Regulators Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) is consulting until 21 July on expanding its remit.

Under the plans, RAPID would build on its success in supporting strategic water resource schemes by also working with large-scale wastewater schemes,  industrial / data centre growth hubs and even city-wide sustainable drainage systems.

The consultation set out proposals across four areas: 

• Defining the role of RAPID in providing national coordination, and how this would complement regional systems planning. 

• Considering how RAPID can improve regulatory coordination to accelerate delivery of major water infrastructure. 

• Defining the criteria for projects entering the RAPID programme and considering the thresholds which should trigger RAPID involvement.

• Establishing RAPID’s scope and remit including wastewater and strategically important projects which do not currently have RAPID oversight. 

  
  

The consultation responds directly to Recommendation 75 of the Independent Water Commission's final report and the Government's January 2026 White Paper.

RAPID added that the consultation will be central to shaping how it and the Major Water Infrastructure Programme operates during the transition period – as well as informing Defra decisions on designing the functions of the single water regulator in England, to be legislated for through the forthcoming Clean Water Bill.

RAPID will consult separately on its remit in Wales, to take account of the Welsh regulatory landscape and the different timescale for establishing the new Welsh regulator.