EA to go ahead with changes to water resources charging scheme from 1 April 2022

Article summary

The Environment Agency (EA) has published the response to its consultation on the proposed changes to the water resources charging scheme, which ran between 18 August and 10 November 2021. The EA received 187 responses, most of which were in favour of introducing a cost reflective charging scheme that supported investment in water resources management, although concerns were raised regarding the change to a banding structure and whether the current method could be continued, as well as the complexity of the charge proposals and the EA not having enough time to take into account the consultation feedback ahead of the budget adjustments in April 2022. The EA confirmed that the responses will inform the development of abstraction and impounding charges and that the new charging scheme will come into force on 1 April 2022 after it is approved by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and HM Treasury has...