Eco Chamber

The drinking water chief on the 'super' regulator and a new NPPF

Eco Chamber

Show Notes

When Labour entered government it pushed for a “reset” within the water sector promising tougher enforcement and major reforms.

The idea of a “powerful” single water regulator for England was mooted, that would replace Ofwat, parts of the Environment Agency and Natural England, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).

The head of the DWI, Marcus Rink, this month sat down with ENDS Report’s senior reporter, Shosha Adie to discuss why the so-called super regulator may not be all that super.

Plus, this week ECO Chamber host James Agyepong-Parsons also discusses the potential environmental consequences of the government’s new National Planning Policy Framework with special guest Pamela Chesterman, an environmental lawyer at Irwin Mitchel LLP.

Chesterman is optimistic about the new national planning blueprint but has concerns that in the short-term current local plans could now be considered “outdated” with a flood of planning applications likely.

PLUS

Hinkley Point C is now open to environmental information requests. Billions more have been raised on customers’ water bills. The Office for Environmental Protection’s new agenda under an environment of “real-term cuts”.

The ECO Chamber is brought to you by the journalists of ENDS Report.

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