WRSE publishes recommendations for the future

WRSE has set out six recommendations which it feels are needed to improve future rounds of water resources planning.

This follows a review with water company members, suppliers and stakeholders to review the strengths and weaknesses of the regional planning process and identify lessons learned.

As member water companies finalise their Water Resource Management Plans for 2025 to 2075, now is the right time to consider how as a sector we support the delivery of current WRMPs and regional plans and drive enhancements for future planning rounds.

With government reform of the industry, and environmental obligations, on the cards, WRSE hopes to share its expertise and experience to drive efficiency, economic growth and environmental protection.

The recommendations focus on two broad areas – governance and process, reflecting the expectations of government and regulators set out in a joint letter in January 2023 which confirmed that they expect regional groups to maintain and prepare regional water resources plans for future planning rounds.

Meyrick Gough, Managing Director of Water Resources South East, explains: "Better governance is an overriding principle.

"For regional plans to evolve further, and be genuinely collaborative and multi-sector, there needs to be strengthened national leadership and more alignment between regulators.

"The process needs to be resourced and governed appropriately. Key stakeholders, including abstractors and catchment partnerships, need to be able to meaningfully participate in the plans’ development by providing data and inputs, having a formal role in decision-making and taking ownership of the outputs for their respective sector as it moves into delivery."

Our recommendations are summarised below; you can read the full document for further detail.