Anglian Water has set out its plans to enable a ‘Green Recovery’ in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Chief Executive Peter Simpson says the Green Recovery Plan can act as a conduit for green growth, job creation and partnership working, commenting:

“I’ve spoken before about the opportunity we now have to ‘lock in’ some of the benefits we’ve seen during lockdown and to use it as a springboard to build back better and create a measure of lasting positivity in the wake of the virus.”

“ This has led to the creation of our Green Recovery Five-Point Plan, which lays out our ambition to enable stronger economic, social and environmental prosperity across the East of England by being a conduit for green growth, job creation and partnership working.”

Anglian Water has already created well over 100 new roles via its Strategic Pipeline Alliance, one of the largest infrastructure programmes ever seen in the region. With hundreds more jobs to be created in a wide variety of roles over the next five years, the utility said the programme will be a key contributor to post-Covid recovery in the region.

In March, Anglian promised not to furlough any of its staff - three thousand of its employees were able to work remotely almost overnight. The company has also fulfilled all job offers, continued to recruit new colleagues, and 50 new apprentices will join the company in October.

The Green Recovery Plan outlines the company’s ambitions across five main areas:

• carbon reduction
• housing growth
• skills and jobs
• climate change
• nature recovery

Setting out the company’s journey so far, the plan also calls for changes to government policy, funding opportunities and new ways of working to fully embrace the ‘build back better’ ethos. Peter Simpson added:

“Our own commitments are laid out in the plan – continuing our journey to reach net zero carbon by 2030, supporting sustainable growth, and ensuring our region is ready and resilient to the changing climate, as well as helping to level up our region through green jobs and skills.”

“We embrace the joint challenge set out by the Government, the Environment Agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, Ofwat and CCW to use the water industry as a conduit for green growth and job creation.”

Regulatory approval of 241 WINEP schemes currently on hold could bring forward £300m investment 

The plan is calling for regulatory approval of Anglian Water’s ‘amber’ Water Industry National Environment Plan (WINEP) schemes - the utility currently has 241 schemes on hold subject to approval of River Basin Management Plans. The water company said an immediate decision to turn its ‘amber’ schemes ‘green’ would bring forward a £300 million investment in nature in the region, including dozens of new treatment wetlands and innovative river restoration schemes.

Anglian will carry out the largest Water Industry National Environment Plan (WINEP) of any water company from 2020-2025, with double the number of commitments made and fulfilled in its 2015-2020 plan. It will seek to create up to 34 water treatment wetlands, building upon the learnings made at its award-winning low carbon wetland at Ingoldisthorpe in Norfolk.

The plan sets out both the commitments Anglian is making to support a green recovery and also the future it wants to see - ‘asks’ which are evidence-based and actionable – including:

• Whole life carbon management of infrastructure
• Mandatory water efficiency product labelling
• Co-digestion of food waste with sewage sludge enabled to increase biomethane production
• Acceleration of Anglian’s smart meter programme and smart water network – crucial for both mitigation of and adaptation to climate change
• Accelerating sustainable housing and infrastructure growth
• A planning system that helps resolve water and flood risk challenges
• Water smart communities that sustainably manage and recycle rainwater
• Regulatory settlements that recognise and address the long-term climate challenge
• Support for strategic solutions that address the risks of flooding and water scarcity together, like Future Fenland
• Early approval of amber WINEP (Water Industry National Environment Plan) schemes
• A national water savings target that addresses all water taken from the natural environment, rather than just household consumption
• Support for market-based approaches to landscape-scale nature restoration that blend public and private funding

Click here to download Anglian Water’s five-point plan for a green recovery