17 Jul 2024

This silver medal winner at the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is a raingarden with a series of limestone stepping stones across a central wet channel and gently sloping berms, filled with adaptable plants that can withstand temporary waterlogging. It is both functional and beautiful, seeking to inspire homeowners to future-proof their gardens, by capturing […]

11 Jul 2024

New Environment Secretary Steve Reed has announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector. He has today announced: He has written to Ofwat to ask them to make sure funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. He […]

11 Jul 2024

Ofwat has published its draft determinations for English and Welsh water companies, allowing a spending package of £88bn over the next 5 years, £16bn less than proposed by companies in their business plans. Ofwat’s headlines Investment of £10bn to tackle storm overflows with a target to reduce spills from storm overflows by 44% from levels […]

10 Jul 2024

New Environment Secretary Steve Reed used x (formerly known as twitter) to set out the top 5 priorities for Defra in the new parliament. These are: Rivers and seas clean up Zero waste economy Support famers for food security Nature recovery Protecting communities from flooding Also of interest, these key points from CIWEM – Labour […]

10 Jul 2024

Over at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband sets out his priorities for the department. These are: delivering our mission to boost energy independence and cutting bills through clean power by 2030 taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy upgrading Britain’s homes and cutting fuel poverty […]

10 Jul 2024

UKWIR’s 2023/4 Annual Review is now available. Click here to download your copy. Inside you will find: Highlights from the past year: A look back at UKWIR’s most notable achievements over the last 12 months, significant research projects and reports, secured funding and partnerships Refreshed research: An overview of our new, wide-ranging research strategy to […]

10 Jul 2024

According to The Guardian, the prime minister and chancellor have been briefed by Whitehall officials that the poor state of Thames Water presents a “critical risk” to the country. Fears about the company go beyond its precarious financial position and include the management of sites that provide drinking water and sewage treatment for millions of […]

10 Jul 2024

Thames Water’s annual results  have raised some eyebrows this week, as they suggest the company only has sufficient funding to operate until May 2025. The results have raised fears over its potential collapse, unless investors provide additional funds. In light of concerns about Thames, Ofwat has published an Information note on Thames Water’s draft determination. […]