Communities to help shape water investment

Communities in England would gain more influence over water company investment under plans announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 November 2026. The regional council plans cover England only.

Eight new regional water councils would bring together local leaders, customers and businesses to set priorities for their areas. Their work would help shape billions of pounds of investment in water and flood infrastructure.

The priorities would include sewage and water quality, flooding, drought and future water supplies. The department says decisions are currently taken nationally despite differences in the pressures facing local communities.

What the councils would do

Local leaders have been asked to submit proposals for running the new bodies by the end of the year. Each council would then prepare a plan describing the biggest pressures on its region’s water system.

Those plans would set out the choices facing the region and the public and private investment that could help address them. Mayors would also receive powers through the strengthened Water Bill to hold water companies to account for their performance.

Existing regional work

The department points to Greater Manchester’s Integrated Water Management Plan as an example of regional cooperation. It says the plan has brought planning, regulation and investment together, with improved drainage supporting town-centre regeneration.

In East Anglia, Water Resources East has brought partners together to address severe water scarcity, including constraints on sustainable growth in Greater Cambridge.

What this means for your household

The planned councils would give customers a role in shaping investment priorities that concern homes, including flood protection and future water supplies.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said the changes were intended to give the public more influence over how money from their bills is spent. The announcement presents the councils as a way for local needs to carry more weight in water investment decisions.

For practical household steps, read Flood plan for your home in the UK and Flood alert or flood warning: what changes for your household?.

Sources