Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan expanded to cover all storm overflows

Article summary

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the summary of responses and its own response to the consultation on the expansion of the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan to cover coastal and estuarine waters. Defra received 846 responses to the consultation, which the government took into consideration and is now making several revisions to the Plan. These changes include expanding the Plan's protections to cover all storm overflows, including those in coastal and estuarine waters. Marine Protected Areas and Shellfish Water Protected Areas will be included in the list of 'high priority sites' for early action, alongside Sites of Special Scientific Interest and bathing waters. The plan also aims to bring £60bn capital investment over the next 25 years, which will be the largest infrastructure initiative in the history of water companies.