Yorkshire Declared in Drought as Water Pressures Spread Across England
The Environment Agency has declared drought in Yorkshire following months of low rainfall, with rivers and reservoirs depleted despite recent rain.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readLatest in Environment
More than 50,000 sewage discharges reported late, campaigners’ analysis claims
Surfers Against Sewage says England’s nine water and sewerage companies reported more than 50,000 discharges late in the first half of 2026. Yorkshire Water disputes the charity’s methodology.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readConservatives pledge to slash new-build costs by £50,000 in huge deregulation drive
The Conservatives have unveiled a sweeping deregulation programme which they claim could cut the cost of a new-build home by up to £50,000, including abolishing the Environment Agency and Natural England as separate bodies.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readLib Dems demand special administration for Thames Water and customer-owned water companies
The Liberal Democrats have called for failing water companies to become customer-owned mutuals and for Thames Water to be placed immediately into special administration.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readMPs tell Government to reject Thames Water creditor rescue and consider special administration
The Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has urged the Government to reject Thames Water's creditor rescue proposal and consider special administration or emergency legislation.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readGovernment unveils first Nature Restoration Fund plan to unlock up to 15,780 homes
The Government has unveiled the first Environmental Delivery Plan under its Nature Restoration Fund, which ministers say could support up to 15,780 new homes in Norfolk while funding large-scale river and wetland restoration.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readUK commits £400m to international tropical-forest fund
The UK intends to invest £400 million in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility through a loan, with the commitment subject to final due diligence and agreement over the fund's governance.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readBurnham considers rewriting insolvency law to make public takeovers of failing utilities easier
Andy Burnham is considering reforms to the special administration regime that could make it easier for the Government to take failing utilities into public control.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readBurnham reportedly shelves immediate Thames Water administration plan amid £2bn warning
Andy Burnham has reportedly decided not to place Thames Water into special administration immediately amid concerns over taxpayer costs, legal risks and practical difficulties.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readRayner Approves Brick Lane Data Centre Despite Calls for Housing-Led Truman Brewery Scheme
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has approved a data centre and wider redevelopment around Brick Lane despite demands for a housing-led future for the former Truman Brewery estate.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readFirst 46 New Homes Completed for British Military Families in Cyprus
The first 46 of 138 new homes for British armed forces personnel and their families have been completed at Dhekelia Station in Cyprus.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readEnvironment Agency Begins Criminal Proceedings Against Southern Water and Former Employees
The Environment Agency has commenced criminal proceedings against Southern Water and several former employees over alleged conduct involving wastewater monitoring between 2012 and 2017.
Staff member · 1 min read