River basin management plans, 2022 to 2027: interim progress report 2025
Published 20 November 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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Executive summary
An overview of progress implementing the programmes of measures set out in the 2022 river basin management plans (RBMPs).
Delivery relies on active involvement of many organisations, partnerships, communities and individuals and the Environment Agency recognises and greatly values your efforts. We encourage you to continue your valuable work engaging, inspiring, and mobilising society to turn RBMPs to reality. Together, we can achieve the multiple benefits we all seek for people, nature, and the climate.
This report is a new requirement under Regulation 34(4) of the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regs 2017. Since publishing the 2022 RBMPs, the environmental policy landscape has changed. The government revised the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and the Environment Act 2021 introduced new priorities, some superseding 2022 RBMP measures.
Measures are continually updated and there is a small difference from the 590 in the 2022 RBMPs to the 600 in this mid cycle 2025 review. It shows 75% of RBMP measures are complete and ongoing in England. This report includes local measures in the Welsh part of the Severn river basin district. Overall, progress for 600 measures in England is:
- 93 (16%) measures are complete
- 354 (59%) measures are ongoing
- 80 (13%) are superseded or replaced by new measures
- 17 (3%) are delayed
- 23 (4%) not started
- 18 (3%) stopped
- 7 (1%) developing
- 6 (1%) blank
- 2 (less than 1%) in planning
25 local measures in the Welsh part of the Severn river basin district are provided by Natural Resources Wales. They are not included in total progress for England measures or the graphs. 18 (72%) of measures are ongoing, 3 (12%) are complete, 2 (8%) not started and 2 (8%) delayed.
The Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) Partnerships develop and track priority actions in Catchment Partnerships pages, giving sight to local delivery. This evidence shows 1,216 priority actions are being implemented, 49% ongoing and 14% completed. CaBA are also involved in delivering over 40 wider RBMP measures.
For water and flood risk coordination, acting on our commitment to coordinate delivery, 190 local RBMP measures of 284 (67%) may contribute to flood risk management plan (FRMP) delivery. This number increased from 49 local measures before the 2022 RBMPs were published. This shows the positive effect of engagement in developing RBMPs.
Together these actions help deliver the 2022 RBMP programmes of measures. We need to maintain and enhance collaboration and investment with all delivery partners and on activities to achieve the objectives of good ecological status or potential.
1. Introduction
The current RBMPs were published in December 2022. This report sets out the progress implementing the programmes of measures from January 2023 to September 2025. Regulation 34 (4) Water Environment Regulations 2017 places an obligation on the Environment Agency to prepare an interim progress report:
(4) The appropriate agency must, in three years of an updated river basin management plan being published under regulation 31(5)
(a) produce an interim report describing progress in the implementation of each planned programme of measures
(b) publish report in such manner as the appropriate agency considers appropriate.
The Environment Agency produced this report working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) sharing progress data, learning and approaches to tracking and reporting. This report includes the Severn river basin district (England and Wales), and the Dee river basin district is included in NRW’s Interim programmes of measures progress review report published 22 October 2025.
This report includes the Severn river basin district (England and Wales). The Dee river basin district is included in NRW’s Interim programmes of measures progress review report published 22 October 2025 with more information available on Water Watch Wales and on the River Restoration Portal. Catchment Partnerships have also shared progress updates on the catchment partnership pages priority actions and provided case studies.
1.1 What the programmes of measures are
The programme of measures are a vital part of the RBMPs. They include key actions, policies, programmes and partnerships to protect and improve England’s waters from catchment to coast. They are a shared endeavour to meet the legal obligations for the Water Framework Directive objectives of:
- preventing deterioration in water body status
- achieving objectives set for water bodies
- achieving objectives set for Protected Areas
The programmes of measures in the 2022 RBMPs give an overview of measures needed to meet the environmental objectives contained in the plans:
- 590 measures are identified in the main summary programmes of measures
- to supplement the RBMPs and help local involvement and delivery, over 1,200 priority actions are set out in CaBA Catchment Partnerships pages
- topic action plans and RBMP principles were published to support delivery
These measures were included with a reasonable expectation of delivery and progress between 2022 and 2027.
The current RBMPs are estimated to cost £50.6 billion and provide £67 billion of benefits – see National Economic Assessment. This presents a cost-beneficial case for investing in measures needed to meet environmental objectives contained in 2022 RBMPs.
RBMP measures are defined by their confidence in delivery or measure type as follows:
A. High confidence measures linked to 2027 objectives and outcomes. Legally required actions with certainty on funding, delivery, environmental outcomes.
B. Less confident measures not linked to 2027 outcomes. Where action is likely, but environmental outcomes, locations, or funding are missing.
C. Potential national policy measures. Strategic actions, ones progressed or replaced by 2023 EIP, and aligning RBMP delivery with wider priorities.
1.2 Changes since the 2022 RBMPs were published
In the 2022 RBMPs, 590 measures were set out. At the time of publishing this 2025 mid cycle progress review, we have 600 measures in total – see table 1. The overall increase of 10 measures is from 16 fewer national measures and 26 more local measures. In comparing measures published in 2022 RBMPs and our 2025 mid cycle total we find:
- 18 more A type high confidence measures
- 15 more B type less confident measures
- 13 less C type national policy measures
We see an increase in delivery progress from less confident to higher confidence measures. This may be funding, outputs and outcomes are agreed or become clearer.
Table 1. Comparing 2022 RBMP published measures and the interim report 2025 review: the number of measures by confidence type and if nationally or locally led
| 2022 – National | 2025 – National | 2022 – Local | 2025 – Local | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 332 | 316 | 258 | 284 |
| Total – difference | 0 | -16 | 0 | +26 |
| A. High confidence measures | 7 | 9 | 113 | 129 |
| A. High confidence measures – difference (2022 to 2025) | 0 | +2 | 0 | +16 |
| B. Less confident measures | 121 | 116 | 145 | 155 |
| B. Less confident measures – difference (2022 to 2025) | 0 | -5 | 0 | +10 |
| C. National policy measures | 204 | 191 | 0 | 0 |
| C. National policy measures – difference (2022 to 2025) | 0 | -13 | 0 | 0 |
For more detail on changes to measures see Annex 1.
Here are some changes to the programmes of measures since publishing 2022 RBMPs:
- the government’s revision of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP)
- the Environment Act 2021
- the introduction of the Water Special Measures Act 2025
- from 1 September 2024, Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs) became a legal need for water and sewerage companies, setting out how to manage and improve systems in the next 25 years to meet environmental and legal obligations. DWMPs are due for publication in 2027 to 2028 and must follow national guidance on how to form, publish and maintain your DWMP, involving collaboration with regulators and stakeholders to address challenges like climate change, urban creep, population growth and infrastructure resilience
- the Price Review 2024 allocated £22.1 billion to the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) between 2025 and 2030. WINEP is expected to enhance or protect 13,500km of river waterbodies and provide wider benefits
- Catchment Sensitive Farming £15 million funding, 42 million hectares supported
- Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMs) Landscape Recovery: more than 300,000 hectares
- since launching the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy in 2020, evolving government priorities and policy changes – key developments include work on a new investment pipeline and funding policy, enhanced national risk tools, and adaptive pathways to support resilience and growth
- Natural Flood Management (NFM) programme – 98 projects in 38 work packages, £25 million more funding on top of the £15 million in 2022
- CaBA partnerships continue developing and delivering programmes of measures and adding priority actions using evidence
- the Environment Agency Environment Programme – strengthened partnerships and local initiatives, including award-winning restoration and farmer-led nutrient reduction schemes
2. Overall progress on measures delivery
2.1 Summary
This section outlines overall progress implementing the combined total of 600 national and local 2022 RBMP programmes of measures (table 2):
- 93 (16%) measures are complete
- 354 (59%) measures are ongoing
- 80 (13%) are superseded or replaced by new measures
- 17 (3%) are delayed
- 23 (4%) not started
- 18 (3%) stopped
- 7 (1%) developing, 6 (1%) blank, 2 (less than 1%) in planning
Table 2. Progress of 600 RBMP measures by type for national (316) and local (284) measures
| Type | A. High confidence | B. Less confident | C. Possible national policy measures | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blank | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Complete | 42 | 37 | 14 | 93 |
| Delayed | 5 | 5 | 7 | 17 |
| Developing | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Not started | 4 | 2 | 17 | 23 |
| Ongoing | 80 | 184 | 90 | 354 |
| Stopped | 3 | 9 | 6 | 18 |
| Superseded | 2 | 25 | 53 | 80 |
| Planning | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 138 | 271 | 191 | 600 |
3. 2022 RBMP national measures progress
3.1 Summary
Table 3 and figure 1 show progress with the 316 national measures.
Table 3. 316 national RBMP measures by measure type
| Type | A. High confidence | B. Less confident | C. Possible national policy measures | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blank | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1% |
| Complete | 5 | 10 | 14 | 29 | 9% |
| Delayed | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 3% |
| Developing | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1% |
| Not started | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 | 5% |
| Ongoing | 4 | 74 | 90 | 168 | 53% |
| Stopped | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 10% |
| Superseded | 0 | 24 | 53 | 77 | 24% |
| Total | 9 | 116 | 191 | 316 | 100% |
Figure 1. Progress implementing national measures
| Delivery progress | Number of measures |
|---|---|
| Ongoing | 168 |
| Superseded | 77 |
| Complete | 29 |
| Not Started | 17 |
| Stopped | 10 |
| Delayed | 9 |
| Developing | 4 |
| Blank | 2 |
3.2 Update on important national measures
3.2.1 Water industry
Ofwat allocated £4.8 billion to water companies for delivering actions in the 2019 Price Review for WINEP. During the AMP7 period from April 2020 to March 2025, water companies delivered a total of 11,355 separate actions. These included 1,875 Improvement actions and 824 actions to prevent deterioration comprising:
- 1,588 sewage treatment improvements
- 364 catchment measures
- 296 sustainable abstraction actions
- 43 habitat restoration projects
The Defra Storm Overflows Taskforce commissioned the Storm overflows evidence project. This informed the 2021 Environment Act and subsequent Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan (SODRP). In the Price Review 2024 (PR24) WINEP, the SODRP has led to including approximately:
- 2,500 storm overflow improvements
- 6,000 storm overflow investigations
This is a significant investment in Water Company PR24 Business Plans. The Storm Overflows Taskforce is using evidence to inform £11.9 billion of water and sewerage company investment in PR24 WINEP on improvements, investigation, and monitoring.
Abstraction Plan delivery including priority catchments includes the following:
- to protect the environment and achieve these measures in practice, the Environment Agency is making full use of its existing powers by prioritising and changing damaging abstraction licences to make abstraction more sustainable
- programmes like the WINEP for water companies, Restoring Sustainable Abstraction programme, time limited licences, unused and underused licence programmes
- a stronger catchment focus – working collaboratively to improving understanding of local challenges and the right solutions for catchments. The Environment Agency strengthened its catchment focus for sustainable abstraction trailing approaches in 10 priority catchment pilots and applying lessons learned
The abstraction service is being modernised to help abstractors:
- view, apply for, or amend licences online
- report water usage more simply
- access up to date information on water availability to manage abstraction more effectively
Towns and cities are being designed for water sustainability – with integrated drainage, wastewater and flood risk management. This measure is complete as all water companies produced drainage and wastewater management plans by 2023.
Under the Levelling up and Regeneration Act (LURA), water companies are required to treat discharges, in certain nutrient neutrality catchments, to a Technically Achievable Limit (TAL) for phosphorus and nitrogen, as relevant. This Act will result in nearly 300 tonnes of phosphate removed each year from relevant protected sites and over 3000 tonnes of nitrogen every year from relevant estuarine and coastal protected sites.
3.2.2 Nature based solutions
The Environment Agency published its position on Nature-based solutions. It focusses on principles and case studies, supporting the Environment Agency’s operational, advisory and regulation in line with strategic objectives. It includes climate resilience, nature recovery and flood risk.
3.2.3 Local Nature Recovery Strategies
Preparing Local Nature Recovery Schemes (LNRS) is ongoing, and the map of LNRS areas on GOV.UK is regularly updated to show progress. The government expects most LNRSs to be published by December 2025. They include priorities and measures to secure improvements in the water environment by creating and improving habitats, improving ecological function, quality and resilience of rivers and floodplains.
3.2.4 Catchment Partnerships
Catchment Partnerships, Coastal Partnerships and Forums, and habitat restoration continue providing successful ways for implementation.
The Green Recovery Challenge Fund provides £80 million investment on catchment restoration.
3.2.5 Catchment Sensitive Farming
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) advice is being given to incentivise best farming practices. Funding has been doubled to £15 million to expand coverage to all farmland in England. A 2024 survey showed 85% of farmers consider local CSF advisors provide trusted advice, 4.2 million hectares of farmland is supported, reaching over 28,000 farms and 200,000 practices. CSF is estimated to have supported more than 100,000 improvement actions, with clean and dirty water separation the top recommendation.
Agri-environment schemes (CSF) covers an estimated 5.6 million hectares, involving 55,000 farm businesses, about 64% of England’s agricultural area. ELMs Landscape Recovery (LR) projects span more than 300,000 hectares, 1,200 farmers, and cover more than 480km of rivers, enabling large-scale environmental restoration.
With increased funding for farm visits:
- the government allocated £4.7 million annually to the Environment Agency from 2022 to fund 4,000 non-permitted farm inspections per year – a tenfold increase
- there were 12,810 inspections between April 2022 to March 2025, targeting high-risk areas for water pollution – 14,348 improvement actions were verified complete, contributing to environmental improvements including ‘clean and dirty water’ separation
- the Environment Agency administer parts of the slurry infrastructure grant to help replace, build or expand slurry stores
- 49% of farms inspected were non-compliant with regulations – 20,040 improvement actions were issued, from minor fixes like guttering, to major infrastructure like slurry store replacement
- 1,577 enforcement responses were issued and there were 3 prosecutions (most were warning letters or on-site warnings) – some improvement actions need more time to complete, especially infrastructure upgrades
3.2.6 Environment Improvement Plans
Environment Act targets for water and biodiversity are ongoing. Some actions are off track, while others are making good progress like reducing phosphorus loads in treated wastewater by 2038. See EIP one year on progress report on improving the natural environment in England published 2024 for more information. The revised EIP provides a useful driver to progress Environment Act targets.
3.2.7 The Environment Agency Environment Programme
Defra provides capital and revenue funding to help deliver Water Framework Directive objectives, through projects on this programme – referred to as the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF). This funding is to protect and improve the water environment and deliver measurable improvements, working with CaBA catchment partnerships and more widely. Doing this enhances delivery of the environmental objectives in RBMPs and the 25 Year Environment Plan.
Some Environment Agency Environment Programme delivery highlights include:
- £32.7 million of funding invested since 2022
- £58.9 million of external funding attracted
- £8.6 million of other Environment Agency funding streams
- working with, on average, more than 900 partners each year
- approximately 2,300km of watercourses enhanced and protected, including removal of barriers to fish and eel migration at 92 sites, 4,000 hectares of water habitats created and restored, and approximately 565,000 trees planted
- working on a Clean Rivers bid for a long-term settlement aiming to support the development and delivery of bigger programmes and projects
- undertaking continuous improvement processes to work more effectively and making funding go further
3.2.8 Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management
The Environment Agency works with Risk Management Authorities (RMAs) and partners to implement the National FCERM Strategy and Roadmap to 2026 supporting environmental improvement from investment in flood and coastal resilience. It encourages RMAs to work with catchment partnerships, coastal groups, land managers and communities to make greater use of nature-based solutions to enhance flood and coast resilience and nature recovery. Detail on progress is in the Section 18 report. Current delivery includes:
- 98 projects in the 38 packages of work in the NFM programme
- 15 Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Fund (FCRIP) projects that include NFM
- 42 projects in the FCERM Investment Programme that include NFM measures
3.2.9 Natural Flood Management
The Environment Agency’s ambition is to embed NFM in mainstream FCERM delivery. Important milestones in achieving this include:
- a £25 million investment in NFM, enabling innovation in grant funding to non-RMAs, streamlined appraisal processes, a nationally consistent approach to benefit estimation, and robust monitoring to address evidence gaps
- collaborating with the Rivers Trust (on behalf of CaBA) to develop the NFM Hub for asset recording
- enhancing the evidence base through updates to the working with natural processes evidence directory
- joint working with Defra on government flood funding reform to support a broader range of resilience measures – including nature-based solutions – in future FCERM investment programmes
3.2.10 Estuaries and Coastal Management
The Environment Agency led Restoring Meadows, Marsh and Reef (ReMeMaRe) initiative, focusses on restoring estuarine and coastal habitats. It has:
- secured £3.4 million from Defra and WEIF investment over the past 3 years to establish a programme office and deliver restoration work with partners
- supported 16 projects, with 66 more in the pipeline requiring approximately £50 million investment to progress
- established various tools and guidance to promote restoration activity, including the Marine Enhancement Directory (MEnD), the UK’s central repository for estuarine, coastal, and offshore habitat creation and restoration projects. This provides an overview of what enhancement activity is happening and where, to facilitate national and regional policy target reporting, enhance collaboration and inform planning decisions
The Beneficial Use Working Group (BUWG) has launched the UK Dredge Sediment Resource Data Viewer, an online platform to improve understanding of the supply and demand for dredged sediment for habitat restoration. The BUWG are now actively encouraging its adoption across industry to support sustainable sediment reuse. See the 2025 case studies that show river basin district delivery.
Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are assessing the feasibility of Local Marine Recovery Plans (LMRPs). These are marine equivalents of LNRS developed with stakeholder-led partnerships.
LMRPs will set recovery priorities, sites and actions, aligning with national targets. They will support delivery via mechanisms like the Marine Recovery Fund, Nature Restoration Fund, Marine Net Gain and private finance. They will also draw on ReMeMaRe tools and guidance and build on existing partnerships and practical projects.
4. Local measures progress
4.1 Summary
The 284 local measures include regulatory activity, partnership projects or voluntary initiatives to enhance the water environment and published in the 2022 RBMPs. Delivery confidence of local measures is increasing as funding is clarified for the measures, and local delivery mechanisms and new measures emerge.
Table 4. Progress for the 284 local RBMP measures by measure type
| Measure type | A. High confidence | B. Less confident | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete | 37 | 27 | 64 | 23% |
| Delayed | 5 | 3 | 8 | 3% |
| Developing | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1% |
| Not started | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2% |
| Ongoing | 76 | 110 | 186 | 66% |
| Planning | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1% |
| Stopped | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3% |
| Superseded | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1% |
| Blank | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1% |
| Total | 129 | 155 | 284 | 100% |
Figure 2. Progress of local measures
| Delivery progress | Number of measures |
|---|---|
| Ongoing | 186 |
| Complete | 64 |
| Delayed | 8 |
| Stopped | 8 |
| Not started | 6 |
| Developing | 3 |
| Superseded | 3 |
| Planning | 2 |
| Blank | 4 |
5. Catchment partnerships – delivering at a local level
CaBA Catchment Partnerships are community-led groups bringing together diverse local organisations, local authorities, NGOs, water companies, Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs), landowners, farmers and businesses, to improve catchment health. They work at a river catchment scale identifying shared problems, plans and projects. Projects deliver environmental, social and economic benefits, like better water quality, increased biodiversity, improved soil health and reduced flood risk.
Catchment Partnerships play a crucial role in local-scale measures through collaborative, place-based planning and feeding into RBMPs delivery. Catchment Partnerships host the 2022 RBMP Catchment Pages as we drive to make RBMPs more local and accessible.
There are 1,216 Catchment Partnership priority actions being implemented set out in the catchment pages. Progress is:
- 176 or 14% are completed
- 596 or 49% are ongoing
- 444 or 37% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing, superseded or in planning
Many local measures are delivered through local Catchment Partnerships, particularly those addressing issues including habitat enhancements, community engagement and nature-based solutions. National measures also benefit from Catchment Partnership support in the planning, engagement, delivery and monitoring phases.
Catchment Partnerships consistently mobilise £3 for every £1 of government funding for hosting partnerships – see the 2023-4 CaBA benefits report. This delivers environmental and social benefits for local communities and the water environment. Working with communities improves understanding, ownership and commitment.
Table 5. Progress implementing Catchment Partnership priority actions
| Delivery progress | Number of measures |
|---|---|
| Ongoing | 596 |
| Complete | 176 |
| Delayed | 37 |
| Stopped | 15 |
| Not started | 43 |
| Developing | 117 |
| Superseded | 26 |
| Planning | 49 |
| Blank | 157 |
| Total | 1,216 |
6. Progress at river basin district scale
This section outlines progress of local and national measures implementation at each individual river basin district in England. Examples are available in the 2022 RBMP local measures case studies and 2025 case studies that show river basin district delivery.
284 local measures in total are planned for delivery across 9 river basin districts in England, including cross boarder measures for the Severn, Dee and Solway Tweed.
Figure 3. Number of local RBMP measures by each river basin district
| River basin district | Number of measures |
|---|---|
| Anglian | 49 |
| Dee | 1 |
| Humber | 44 |
| North West | 20 |
| Northumbria | 32 |
| Severn | 25 |
| Solway Tweed | 11 |
| South East | 18 |
| South West | 39 |
| Thames | 55 |
Note: as some measures operate in multiple river basin districts, catchments or waterbodies, so we are double counting some measures. The Environment Agency has taken reasonable steps to provide the best possible information. Also, this graph does not capture the 25 local measures in the Welsh part of the Severn river basin district. They do feature in the Severn river basin district section 6.7.
6.1 Anglian river basin district
There are 49 local measures and 204 national measures planned for the Anglian river basin district. Table 6 shows progress. For:
- local measures: 31 or 63% of local measures are ongoing, 14 or 39% completed and 4 or 8% are superseded, not started, delayed or developing
- national measures: 123 or 61% are ongoing, 22 or 11% are completed, 57 or 28% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing or superseded
Table 6. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the Anglian river basin district
| Progress | Total – local | Total – national |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 31 | 123 |
| Superseded | 1 | 33 |
| Complete | 14 | 22 |
| Not started | 1 | 11 |
| Stopped | 0 | 5 |
| Delayed | 1 | 5 |
| Developing | 1 | 3 |
| Blank | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 49 | 204 |
6.2 Humber river basin district
There are 44 local measures and 205 national measures planned for the Humber river basin district. Table 7 shows progress. For:
- local measures: 25 or 57% of local measures are ongoing, 13 or 30% are completed and 6 or 13% are stopped or delayed
- national measures: 127 or 63% are ongoing, 22 or 10% are completed, 54 or 27% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing or superseded
Table 7. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the Humber river basin district
| Progress | Total – local | Total – national |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 25 | 127 |
| Superseded | 0 | 30 |
| Complete | 13 | 22 |
| Not started | 0 | 11 |
| Stopped | 2 | 5 |
| Delayed | 3 | 5 |
| Developing | 0 | 3 |
| Blank | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 44 | 205 |
6.3 Northumbria river basin district
There are 32 local measures, and 203 national measures planned for the Northumbria river basin district. Table 8 shows progress. For:
- local measures: 19 or 59% of local measures are ongoing, 6 or 19% completed and less than 7 or 22% are superseded, stopped, delayed or developing
- national measures: 124 or 61% are ongoing, 22 or 11% are completed, 55 or 27% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing or superseded
Table 8. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the Northumbria river basin district
| Progress | Total – local | Total – national |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 19 | 124 |
| Superseded | 2 | 31 |
| Complete | 6 | 22 |
| Not started | 0 | 11 |
| Stopped | 2 | 5 |
| Delayed | 1 | 5 |
| Developing | 2 | 3 |
| Blank | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 32 | 203 |
6.4 North West river basin district
There are 20 local measures, and 203 national measures are planned for the North West river basin district. Table 9 shows progress. For:
- local measures: 16 or 80% of local measures are ongoing, 1 or 5% are completed and 3 or 15% are not started, stopped or developing
- national measures: 125 or 62% are ongoing, 22 or 11% are completed, 54 or 27% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing or superseded
Table 9. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the North West river basin district
| Progress | Total – local | Total – national |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 16 | 125 |
| Superseded | 0 | 30 |
| Complete | 1 | 22 |
| Not started | 1 | 11 |
| Stopped | 1 | 5 |
| Delayed | 0 | 5 |
| Developing | 1 | 3 |
| Blank | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 20 | 203 |
6.5 South East river basin district
There are 18 local measures, and 202 national measures are planned for the South East river basin district. Table 10 shows progress. For:
- local measures: 14 or 77% of local measures are ongoing, 2 or 13% are completed and 2 or 13% are delayed or in planning
- national measures: 122 or 60% are ongoing, 23 or 11% are completed, 55 or 27% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing or superseded
Table 10. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the South East river basin district
| Progress | Total – local | Total – national |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 14 | 122 |
| Superseded | 0 | 31 |
| Complete | 2 | 23 |
| Not started | 0 | 11 |
| Stopped | 0 | 5 |
| Developing | 0 | 3 |
| Delayed | 1 | 5 |
| Planning | 1 | 0 |
| Blank | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 18 | 202 |
6.6 South West river basin district
There are 39 local measures, and 206 national measures are planned for the South West river basin district. Table 11 shows progress. For:
- local measures: 28 or 72% of local measures are ongoing, 8 or 21% are completed and 3 or 8% are not started or stopped
- national measures: 125 or 61% are ongoing, 23 or 11% are completed, 56 or 27% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing or superseded
Table 11. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the South West river basin district
| Progress | Total – local | Total – national |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 28 | 125 |
| Superseded | 0 | 31 |
| Complete | 8 | 23 |
| Not started | 1 | 11 |
| Stopped | 2 | 5 |
| Delayed | 0 | 5 |
| Developing | 0 | 4 |
| Blank | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 39 | 206 |
6.7 Severn river basin district
There are 25 local measures in the English part of the Severn river basin district, 25 in the Welsh part and 204 national measures. Table 12 shows progress. For:
- England local measures: 19 or 76% of local measures are ongoing, 5 or 20% are complete and 1 or 4% stopped
- Wales local measures: 18 or 72% of measures are ongoing, 3 or 12% are complete, 2 or 8% not started and 2 or 8% delayed – further detail on these actions are available on Water Watch Wales and through the River Restoration Portal
- national measures: 126 or 62% are ongoing, 22 or 11% are completed, 54 or 26% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing or superseded
- Wales, the overall status for the national measures is green, with 78 of the 85 measures having a status of ongoing – these are found on Water Watch Wales
Table 12. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the Severn river basin district
| Progress | Total – England local | Total – England national | Total – Wales local measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 19 | 126 | 18 |
| Superseded | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Complete | 5 | 22 | 3 |
| Not started | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| Stopped | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Delayed | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Developing | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Blank | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 204 | 25 |
6.8 Solway Tweed river basin district
There are 11 local measures, and 200 national measures are planned for the Solway Tweed river basin district. Table 13 shows progress with local and national measures. For:
- local measures: 9 or 82% of local measures are ongoing, and 2 or 18% are not started or developing
- national measures: 123 or 62% are ongoing, 22 or 11% are completed, 53 or 27% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing or superseded
Table 13. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the Solway Tweed river basin district
| Progress | Total – local | Total – national |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 9 | 123 |
| Superseded | 0 | 29 |
| Complete | 0 | 22 |
| Not started | 1 | 11 |
| Stopped | 0 | 5 |
| Delayed | 0 | 5 |
| Developing | 1 | 3 |
| Blank | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 11 | 200 |
6.9 Thames river basin district
There are 55 local measures, and 202 national measures are planned for the Thames river basin district. Table 14 shows progress. For:
- local measures: 30 or 53% of local measures ongoing, 14 or 25% completed and 8 or 15% are not started, stopped, delayed, developing or in planning
- national measures: 122 or 60% are ongoing, 23 or 11% completed, 55 or 27% are superseded, delayed, stopped, not started or developing
Table 14. Progress of local and national RBMP measures in the Thames river basin district
| Progress | Total – local | Total – national |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | 30 | 122 |
| Superseded | 0 | 31 |
| Complete | 14 | 23 |
| Not started | 3 | 11 |
| Stopped | 1 | 5 |
| Delayed | 2 | 5 |
| Planning | 1 | 0 |
| Developing | 1 | 3 |
| Blank | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 55 | 202 |
7. Conclusions
With 75% of measures complete or ongoing, this interim progress report and examples show some excellent work being delivered to improve and protect our water environment and achieve wider benefits. These successes are a testament to the dedication, innovation, and collaboration of all the organisations and partnerships involved.
Overall, for the 600 measures in total:
- 93 or 16% are complete
- 354 or 59% are ongoing
- 153 or 26% are superseded, delayed, stopped, not started, developing or in planning
For the 329 national measures:
- 29 or 8% are complete
- 179 or 54% are ongoing
- 126 or 38% are superseded, delayed, stopped, not started or developing
For the 284 local measures:
- 64 or 23% are complete
- 186 or 65% are ongoing
- 34 or 12% are superseded, delayed, stopped, not started, developing or in planning
There are 1,216 Catchment Partnership priority actions being implemented, where:
- 176 or 14% are complete
- 596 or 49% are ongoing
- 444 or 37% are delayed, stopped, not started, developing, superseded or in planning
To realise our shared ambitions for healthier waters, catchments, and communities, we must maintain momentum with continued collaboration and integrated delivery – right to the end of the 2022 RBMP cycle to 2027 and beyond.
Sustained collective effort will be key to turning visions into lasting, meaningful benefits and outcomes.
Annex 1. Changes to 2022 RBMP measures
Local measures changes: 16 new local RBMP measures have been identified including the following.
Northumbria river basin district, North West river basin district, Humber river basin district
- Nature North a nature recovery and green finance partnership – a pan river basin district scale approach
Anglian river basin district
2 new measures:
- Anglian Eastern RFCC collaborative NFM delivery with £1 million levy funding agreed
- Anglian Great Ouse RFCC collaborative NFM delivery with £1 million levy funding agreed
South West river basin district
- 1 new measure: Restoring water quality and ecology in Poole Harbour – A farmer led initiative to achieve an interim target for nutrients entering Poole Harbour
- 5 Internal Environment Agency Catchment Strategy documents
North West and Solway Tweed river basin districts
- partnership working with land managers
- sustainable management of Water Resources
- restoring rivers and removing barriers to fish migration and invasive non-native species – successes included an RSPB-led river restoration project on a tributary of the River Gelt winning the River Restoration Centre UK River Prize in 2025
Severn river basin district
- 2 Environment Agency Internal Catchment Strategy documents
National measures changes
- 20 national measures were deleted, some of which are duplicates of another measure, had insufficient funding or were superseded by EIP measures
- water and abandoned metal mines (WAMM) programme: partnership between Environment Agency, Coal Authority and Defra x4
- investigate new approaches for nutrient neutrality and mitigation measures. For new developments
- Preventing Plastic Pollution – Interreg funding – led by Southern Water x2
- implementation of the Water Resources Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) Chalk Stream Restoration Group (CSRG) chalk strategy x3
- Water Company Asset Management Plan Price Review 2024 Water Company National Environment Programme schemes – sewage
- Riverlands Partnership Programme – multiple catchment restoration projects across the country
- Natural England Marine Protected Areas (MPA) ReMEDIES EU Life funded x2
- Chalk and Ephemeral Stream sustainability actions and flow protection x2
- water companies work with catchment partners to support flagship chalk stream restoration projects
- Environment Agency Environment Programme beyond current confirmed projects
- Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Abandoned coal mine water programme
- Water Company Asset Management Plans Price Review 2019 Water Company National Environment Programme schemes – sewage
Annex 2. Progress definitions used in this 2025 RBMP interim report
Complete: Measure has been delivered, end date for works has passed.
Ongoing: Work has started to deliver the required action.
Delayed: Planned start date has past, no actual dates stated, progress has fallen short of what was expected.
Stopped: Work to deliver the required action has stopped, it is unlikely to achieve required deadlines unless planned steps are taken.
Developing: No dates stated for delivery, or criteria for no other phase has been met.
Planning: Planned dates have been stated.
Not started: Actual start date is in the future.
Stopped: Work to deliver the required action has been halted for given reasons.
Blank: No information provided.