Ofwat has published details of how it will consider projects as part of the RAPID (Regulators’ Alliance to Progress Infrastructure Development) programme going forward, the overall portfolio of RAPID projects and the approach to the gated process, including expected deliverables.

Ofwat will relax the strict criteria it applied to water resource solutions at PR19 – on scheme size and the need for more than one water company to be involved – at PR24. It will consider single company schemes and look at all solutions that make “a significant contribution to the water resources outcomes of their region”.

The PR24 Draft Determinations identified four new solutions which meet the new criteria: Broad Oak Reservoir, Teddington to Queen Mary Transfer, Kielder Transfer and Bacton Desalination. Others are under consideration, with decisions to be part of the Final Determinations.

Among other changes being introduced, RAPID will remove standardised gate timings; change the gate one and gate two arrangements for new solutions; and extend its oversight to solutions which may benefit from additional regulatory support to work through complex or risky issues, but which do not need to be handled within the gated process.