Pressures are mounting on the Government to publish its contingency plans amidst growing concerns about Thames Water’s financial position, following a report in the Financial Times that the water company is lobbying the government and Ofwat to let it increase bills, pay dividends and face lower fines.

Philip Duffy, Chief Executive, Environment Agency has told water companies that the increased water company inspections jointly announced with Defra will include a significant increase in in-depth audits of company assets.

The Government has confirmed it intends to bring regulators Ofwat, Ofgem, and Ofcom and their regulatory functions into scope of the Growth Duty measure in early 2024.

Ofwat Chief Executive David Black has written to Wessex Water and South West Water to inform them that the Mendip Quarries strategic resource option (SRO) should continue to receive development funding for Gate three in the RAPID programme.

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has expressed "real concerns"  to Ofwat that its enforcement powers place it in a situation whereby "enforcing regulations and issuing fines against consistently failing entities" will place a further financial burden on the companies and increase the risk of corporate failure.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that water company inspections will more than quadruple as the Government cracks down on poor performing companies.

RAPID has published its draft decision to allow further funding for the Fens Reservoir strategic regional water resource solution to progress to gate three.

Beginning 12 February, all major housing developments will now be legally required to deliver at least a 10% benefit Biodiversity Net Gain.