The consultation ran for 8 weeks from 13 December 2025 until 5 December 2025 – the Agency was originally due to publish a consultation response document by no later than Frday 27 March 2026.

Announcing the delay, the EA explained:

“Due to the high volume of detailed responses received and current resource constraints within the team, we have needed to extend the timeline for completing the consultation review. We are now working to finalise the analysis and prepare our response by 27 March. We appreciate stakeholders’ patience as we ensure all feedback is fully considered and accurately reflected in the updated water resources planning guideline.”

The consultation invited comments on the EA’s proposed updates to the water resources planning guideline and asked stakeholders to consider whether the guideline allows water companies to produce plans with secure and resilient water supplies which protect the environment.

The EA sought responses to four specific questions:

The water resources planning guideline sets out the guidance that Government and regulators expect water companies to follow when writing their statutory water resources management plans. The guidance states:

“Your plan should take a long-term view. It should set a planning period that is appropriate to the risks of your company and region, but which covers at least the statutory minimum period of 25 years. It may be appropriate, depending on the challenges and risks you face, and those in the relevant regional plan, for you to plan for the next 50 years or more. This is so your plan identifies appropriate solutions to meet future pressures.”

The Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Ofwat are responsible for jointly writing the guideline and play a significant role in the WRMP process. Other regulators involved in the WRMP process include the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) and Natural England.

Significant change is in prospect for water sector regulation following the publication of the Cunliffe Review in July 2025 and the Corry Review in April 2025. Reference to the respective Cunliffe and Corry reviews in the consultation documents confined to the following comments:

“Please note: the Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, has undertaken the largest review of the water industry since privatisation. The Corry Review has also made recommendations regarding the regulatory landscape This guidance is written without prejudice to any Government outcomes from these reviews….

"In England, government plans to move the abstraction and impoundment licensing regime into the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

“Following the publication of the final report by the Independent Water Commission, we are awaiting a decision from Ministers on the recommendation to move abstraction into the EPR and the timescales for this to happen.”

The Agency plans to publish the final version of the updated guideline in Spring 2026.