Notice

Independent Water Commission: interim report will be published on 3 June 2025

Published 2 June 2025

Applies to England and Wales

On 23 October 2024, the UK government and Welsh Government announced an independent commission into the water sector and its regulation, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe.

On 27 February 2025, the Independent Water Commission published a call for evidence, which set out the current issues in the sector and areas for potential change that the commission has been exploring.

On 3 June 2025, the commission will publish an interim report containing preliminary findings.

The commission will publish a final report in summer 2025 containing recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments.

As set out in the commission’s terms of reference, the commission is tasked to make recommendations to ensure that the water sector works for customers and the environment. This includes by ensuring that:

  • there is a strategic spatial planning approach to the management of water across sectors
  • the water industry has clear objectives
  • the water sector regulatory framework delivers long-term stability and enables the privatised water industry to attract investment, maintain resilient finances and contribute to economic growth