The Government has published a planning reform working paper on streamlining infrastructure planning, part of a series of working papers on different aspects of planning reform, designed to inform further policy development in collaboration with the wider sector.

Philip Duffy, the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency has told the Government it will support a new approach to regulators and regulations to support economic growth.

New data released by Ofwat shows that the total debt for household water bills across England and Wales for households amounts to over £2 billion. As of March 2024, approximately 8.2% of household customers were in payment arrears, with the average amount owed to their water company being approximately £822.

Defra Minister Steve Reed has told the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee that it is up to Thames Water to solve their issues of financial resilience and not for Government to tell a private company how to manage their finances.

The House of Commons  Environmental Audit Committee is holding a live evidence session this afternoon from 2.30pm onwards to examine whether flood resilience efforts in England are fit for purpose.