Firstly, we identified all the factors that could change how much water is available in the future and how much more we’ll need to supply a growing population. We developed a range of long-term forecasts to help us understand what could happen to our water supplies in the years to come. We used this to develop an adaptive plan, which considers a range of different futures.

We also looked at the future water needs of the other main water users in the region and how much they’ll need to produce their products and services in the years to come.

We identified all the options available to help us secure our water resources. This included options to reduce demand such as tackling leaks and water efficiency; schemes that will provide extra water supplies such as new reservoirs and water recycling; and schemes that work with nature to help make the environment our water comes from more resilient.

We assessed all our options and considered how much they will cost, how much water they will provide, how they will impact on the environment and how resilient they will be to future shocks and stresses. We used our regional investment model to identify a plan that will secure the region’s water supplies at the lowest cost possible, while meeting all the legal and regulatory requirements and policy expectations.

Investment in our region’s water resources could deliver wider benefits. We identified a set of criteria to assess different plans against to help us develop a best value plan. This included how much natural capital could be created, how biodiversity could be improved, the benefits and disbenefits to the environment, the level of resilience delivered and the cost to future generations. We also considered which options customers preferred.

We compared many different plans and produced a draft best value regional plan for consultation. The consultation closed on 20 February 2023.