Anglian Water receives Final Determination from Ofwat on £11bn plan for the region.
 
Anglian Water has today received its Final Determination from the water industry regulator, Ofwat, in response to its £11 billion plan proposed for the region over the next five years. 
 
Between 2025 and 2030, the plan will deliver essential and ambitious investment in our region’s water and sewerage infrastructure, creating jobs, protecting and enhancing the environment and underpinning the rapidly growing region and local economy.    
 
The East of England is the fastest growing in the country with approximately 700,000 more people expecting to call it home in the next 20 years, coupled with being on the frontline of climate change and water scarcity.  
  
The water company said its plans would ensure it remained ahead of these pressures including enabling it to tackle pollution, enhance the environment, mitigate flooding and keep taps flowing, while continuing to ensure our services remain affordable, resilient, and accessible for all customers.  
 
Commenting on the final determination, Mark Thurston, CEO of Anglian Water, said:   
  
“Our investment programme over the next five years and beyond 2030 will create thousands of skilled, well-paid jobs in the region, which in turn will enable essential growth in housing, commerce and industry. This puts Anglian Water at the heart of one of the most thriving and economically vibrant regions of our country.    
  
“Worth £11bn over five years, Anglian has one of the lowest bill rises for customers in the UK, yet one of the largest investment programmes. We plan to double our investment in the environment to over £4bn. This includes £635m for new water pipelines to feed the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, £660m to develop two new reservoirs in Lincolnshire and the Fens to supply nearly three quarters of a million people and futureproof against water scarcity; and £2.7bn to improve our resilience to the risk of flood and drought, helping protect our rivers and coastline from the effects of climate change.  
  
“Alongside this investment in transformational infrastructure, we have put forward a strong package of support for vulnerable customers. This will help those in difficult circumstances and at risk of being in water poverty to get the financial support they need, including a discounted tariff for those with certain medical needs.”  
  
The scale of the plan reflects the significant factors affecting the eastern England region – it is the fastest growing region with more people and businesses calling it home, including a critical agriculture economy, feeding the nation and burgeoning green energy industry that is water intensive. It is on the frontline of climate change, in one of the driest areas but also predominantly below sea-level posing flooding challenges. 
 
Ofwat has previously acknowledged the quality of our plan through the Business Planning process. Over the coming weeks, Anglian Water will be reviewing the feedback in detail and continuing discussions with Ofwat as needed.