(by Karma Loveday) The Greater Cambridge Development Corporation will have powers to plan, fund and deliver water infrastructure. That’s according to Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary under secretary for housing, communities and local government, who last week spoke in a House of Lords debate on the future of Cambridgeshire and the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation. Multiple peers raised water supply and wastewater capacity constraints as fundamental challen

(by Karma Loveday) Vast differences in the complaints performance of different retailers persisted in 2025-26, according to the Consumer Council for Water’s (CCW) annual Business Customer Complaints Report. Smaller suppliers put in the best (ADSM, Source for Business, Water for Business) and worst (Clear Business Water, SES Business Water) performances. Of the big four retailers, Wave and Business Stream performed the best (see chart). Across the market, complaint numbers to

(by Karma Loveday) Exactly one year on from the publication of the Independent Water Commission report which recommended the formation of a new super regulator, Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union members at Ofwat wrote to new environment secretary Dame Angela Eagle calling for urgent clarity over their future. The letter stated: “We are not opposing reform. We are asking for workforce matters relating to reform to be transparent, credible, fair and deliverable.

(by Karma Loveday) Skewb has opened registrations for the operations challenge it is running at the International Water Association’s World Water Congress, taking place in Glasgow on 4-8 October. Instead of the usual drilling and tapping challenge, the team has opted for a modern, digital and inclusive alternative. Four teams of three will go head-to-head to manage a simulated storm water flooding event in Glasgow – with evolving risks and issues – in a one-hour challenge. Th

(by Karma Loveday) Ofwat is consulting until 10 September on a new Water Governance Code that would require at least half each water company board, excluding the chair, to be “demonstrably independent”. This is part of ongoing work under the Water Special Measures Act to restore trust in water. Other proposals in the Code included: Independent non-executive directors (INEDs) and chairs would not be allowed to simultaneously sit on both a water company board and its parent co

(by Karma Loveday) The Environment Agency is to take criminal proceedings against Southern Water and a number of former employees for historic wastewater offences, following a judgement by the Administrative Court. Former chief executive Matthew Wright and three others – Philip Barker, Clive Massey and Mark Gregory – will face a charge of conspiracy to defraud, a common law offence carrying a maximum ten-year prison term. It is alleged that between 1 January 2012 and 31 Decem

(by Karma Loveday) Echoing the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission, the Aldersgate Group has called for a new National Water Strategy and for this to be delivered through new Regional Water Authorities within a much tidier and clearer regulatory framework. The Group – a multi-stakeholder alliance championing a competitive and environmentally sustainable economy – has published a new report, The business case for a national water framework. This is cognisant of

(by Verity Mitchell) England will only have enough water for a fraction of the new homes the Government has pledged to deliver this Parliament. That’s according to analysis by Public First, commissioned by Water UK. It found that England will only have enough water for 420,000 of the Government's target of 1.5m homes. In some parts of the country, there is only a 2% buffer between what is available and what is used. Water UK argued that assumptions about demand reduction sho

(by Karma Loveday) New PM Andy Burnham has appointed Wallasey MP Dame Angela Eagle as Defra secretary of state. She served as Defra minister of state between September 2025 and June 2026. Emma Hardy remains in the department, securing a promotion from Parliamentary under secretary to minister of state. The Scottish Government has appointed Aidan O’Carroll as the new chair of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. He will serve for four years from August. O’Carroll is a c

(by Karma Loveday) Natural Resources Wales has declared a drought in North Wales and the Upper Severn, and moved all remaining catchments across Wales from 'normal' to 'prolonged dry weather' status – the stage before drought. This follows continued hot, dry weather. North Wales and the Upper Severn have received less than 2% of the expected rainfall for the month so far, and river flows in both areas are exceptionally low for the time of year. In England, the Environment Age