DEFRA··ReleaseWater
New regional councils give communities a say on sewage, flooding and drought spending
DEFRA announced eight new regional water councils on 5 November 2026, where local leaders, customers and businesses will set investment priorities for sewage, flooding, drought and water supply in their area. Mayors will also get new powers under the strengthened Water Bill to hold water companies to account. Local leaders must submit proposals by the end of the year.
Our readInvestment priorities for billions of pounds of water infrastructure now move to eight regional tables instead of one national one, so regional schemes will need to be argued for at council level first.
Read the announcement at DEFRA →
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