Closed 7 of 102 events
Threads / River Basin Management Planning / Timeline
Lifecycle stage Response Published
331 days in stage

River Basin Management Planning

The Environment Agency leads river basin management planning to coordinate water resources, environmental protection, and flood management across river catchments in England. The framework requires periodic updates to basin management plans identifying significant water management issues and programmes of measures. Current status involves consultation on collaborative planning approaches (2024) and awaiting Water Commission recommendations, with Defra acknowledging the need for strategic system reset that may require legislative changes.

Log in for AI briefing
Showing 7 of 102 signals
Sort Latest first Oldest first
Family 1
Signal
Year
Body
Role
Clear all
Family: Scrutiny and evidence
18 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

Defra seems to be passively waiting for the Water Commission to report before making changes to the system. Defra has acknowledged the need for a complete reset of strategic planning and has committed to accepting the recommendations for the Water Commission, but it expects they may take legislation to fully implement. This scale of change must be carefully managed to avoid making the sector even more unpredictable. Both Defra and the regulators recognise that change cannot wait until the Com...

Defra seems to be passively waiting for the Water Commission to report before making changes to the system. Defra has acknowledged the need for a complete reset of strategic planning and has committed to accepting the recommendations for the Water …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 Jan 2022 | Committee report linked

Development of catchment sensitive farming will require calculations of the overall nitrogen and phosphorous load for farmland and river catchments. We therefore recommend that DEFRA commission a periodic (five yearly) appraisal of catchment-wide nutrient flows across each of the major river catchments in England. Such appraisals should then be used by local authorities and planning authorities to inform decisions on new housing developments and intensive livestock units, taking into account ...

Development of catchment sensitive farming will require calculations of the overall nitrogen and phosphorous load for farmland and river catchments. We therefore recommend that DEFRA commission a periodic (five yearly) appraisal of catchment-wide nutrient flows across each of the major …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 Jan 2022 | Committee report linked

In the Committee’s recent report on biodiversity in the UK we argued that action to protect biodiversity needed to be stepped up in scale, ambition, pace, and detail. Our conclusions from this inquiry show that this step change in approach is vital to protect freshwater biodiversity.

In the Committee’s recent report on biodiversity in the UK we argued that action to protect biodiversity needed to be stepped up in scale, ambition, pace, and detail. Our conclusions from this inquiry show that this step change in approach …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 Jan 2022 | Committee report linked

Changes in regulatory action, cross-catchment collaboration and water company investment are urgently required to restore rivers to good ecological health, protect biodiversity and adapt to a changing climate. We expect to see far more assertive regulation and enforcement from Ofwat and the Environment Agency, with the provision of funding and resources to match.

Changes in regulatory action, cross-catchment collaboration and water company investment are urgently required to restore rivers to good ecological health, protect biodiversity and adapt to a changing climate. We expect to see far more assertive regulation and enforcement from Ofwat …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 Jan 2022 | Committee report linked

The biodiversity crisis requires public agencies, regulators and water companies to adopt new decision-making methodologies. The idea, for instance, that pollution can be tolerated in areas with low ‘amenity value’ belongs to a different era. Pollution of rivers must be addressed wherever it occurs because of the impact of such pollution has on freshwater ecosystems and ultimately the health of the oceans.

The biodiversity crisis requires public agencies, regulators and water companies to adopt new decision-making methodologies. The idea, for instance, that pollution can be tolerated in areas with low ‘amenity value’ belongs to a different era. Pollution of rivers must be …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 Jan 2022 | Committee report linked

Responsibility for improving water quality in rivers cannot be laid solely at the door of the water industry. The project to restore all rivers in England to good health will require the engagement and collaboration of a wide range of stakeholders—from farmers to local authorities, and from product manufacturers to food outlets. At the riverside, it will require concerted action from a range of stakeholders collaborating across each catchment, including farmers, the water industry, housing de...

Responsibility for improving water quality in rivers cannot be laid solely at the door of the water industry. The project to restore all rivers in England to good health will require the engagement and collaboration of a wide range of …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
13 Jan 2022 | Committee report linked

It is important that communities who engage in citizen science receive a meaningful response to their work. We recommend that the Government consider whether a requirement should be placed on water companies to respond to citizen science research undertaken by CaBA partnerships, where that research demonstrates water quality issues in a specific area, with an action plan to address the issues identified.

It is important that communities who engage in citizen science receive a meaningful response to their work. We recommend that the Government consider whether a requirement should be placed on water companies to respond to citizen science research undertaken by …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK