The government has accepted that not enough progress has been made in improving the water environment in England. The admission came in response to the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) report on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive regulations and River Basin Management Planning.

Defra’s response recognises that “The government agrees that there has been insufficient progress towards existing water environmental objectives over the time frame of the current regulatory framework and that increased action and investment, and more effective management of the water system as a whole is required”.

It pointed to its upcoming review of water regulation as a means to deliver transformational change.

More details, including links to the OEP report, here.