South East Water to publish a 25-year plan for the environment

South East Water is developing a 25 Year Plan for the environment, aligned with Defra’s 25 Year Environment Plan, to act as a roadmap to creating and maintaining environmental resilience in the short and long term.

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The company noted it is the first UK water company to develop such a plan, which will go above and beyond existing statutory plans such as the Water Industry National Environment Programme, Water Resources Management Plan and Drought Plan.

Emma Goddard, head of environment at South East Water, said: “Our 25-Year Plan will be a long-term environmental strategy and provide a framework for the entire company, to protect and enhance the environmental resilience of our supply area, short and long-term.”

The plan is being co-created. South East Water has already held two multi-stakeholder workshops to create a shared vision for the plan and agree on strategic priorities. It will hold similar workshops with customers and staff in the coming weeks.

The intention is to publish the plan in November to coincide with the COP26 climate change conference, and then to review and update it every five years.