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Ofwat has announced four new non-executive Directors to its Board, following a joint process by Defra and the Welsh Government. The appointments, made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, come as two non-executive members of Ofwat’s Board – Christine Farnish and Martin Lawrence – come to the end of their terms and will be stepping...

More than 50 projects led by community and volunteer groups, councils and individuals have been awarded a share of a £10 million pot to increase tree numbers in urban areas through small-scale planting projects. The funding has been awarded as part of the second and final round of the Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund, resulting in the planting of...

Warrington Borough Council’s local government green bond has closed after reaching its £1 million target last week. The Community Municipal Investment, which attracted over 500 investors from across the UK with an average investment of almost £2000 each, will help fund a multi-million pound solar and battery storage project near Cirencester. Cllr Russ Bowden, Leader of Warrington Brough Council, commented on...

The UK has taken further steps on its journey to net zero by 2050, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his ten point plan, which seeks to create and support 250,000 jobs. Covering clean energy, transport, nature and innovative technologies, the plan will mobilise £12 billion of government investment, and seeks to spur over three times as much private...

A call for evidence has been launched to inform an independent review led by Sir Peter Hendy on how the quality and availability of transport infrastructure across the UK can support economic growth and quality of life. Responses to the consultation should consider the following: the quality and reliability of major connections across the UK likely current and future demand...

Transport currently make up 17% of Wales’ carbon emissions but the Welsh Government has launched draft strategy for the future of transport in Wales, setting out the country's ambitions for the next 20 years and priorities for the next five years. The draft strategy, ‘Llwybr Newydd – New Path’, sets out a range of new ambitions to reshape transport in...

A new social housing whitepaper seeking to ensure support for residents in England and ensure landlords raise standards where needed has been announced by the Housing Secretary. The white paper – ‘The Charter for Social Housing Residents’, sets out reforms that seek to speed up the complaints procedure for residents by improving access to the Housing Ombudsman, reducing decision times and...

Views are sought on the proposed 2021 to 2022 operational cost budgets and resulting levies for the Low Carbon Contracts Company and the Electricity Settlements Company. The Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) enters into and manages Contracts for Difference with low carbon electricity generators. The Electricity Settlements Company (ESC) is responsible for financial transactions relating to the Capacity Market, including making...

The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) calls for healthier food system from personal, policy and public procurement sides in a new climate and health paper. The Alliance’s new report, ‘All-consuming: building a healthier food system for people and planet’, makes a suite of recommendations designed to reduce the UK’s food-related greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of climate change on the health...

Beaches across Wales have achieved 100% compliance with the Bathing Waters Directive, with 80% of designated beaches achieving an ‘excellent’ status. Of 105 beaches sampled by Natural Resources Wales, 84 achieved the highest qualification of excellent, 14 good and seven sufficient. Working closely with Welsh Government, Local Authorities and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales visited all 105 designated bathing...