PR24: Yorkshire to double environmental spend

Water and sewerage company Yorkshire Water is proposing a total spend of £7.8 billion to 2030, a significant step-up from the £4.3 billion allowed in PR19. Yorkshire says its proposed investment plan, which will be its largest ever, is predominantly driven by the requirements of the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), specifically the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan (SODRP).

The environmental investment plans total £4.3 billion, including £1.9 billion to reduce the use of storm overflows and £1.8 billion to maintain and improve wastewater collection and treatment.

WINEP spend has more than doubled from the level in PR19, increasing from £921 million to £1.8 billion in PR24.

As part of the plans Yorkshire will deliver 18 low-carbon wastewater treatment wetlands across its region during the five-year period.

Bills are set to rise by 18% for 2025-26, taking them from £438.12 in 2024-25 to £518.76 with small increases planned for subsequent years. This represents an increase of 30 pence per day per household.

Yorkshire has planned £446 million to improve customer service and ensure new developments in the region can quickly and easily connect to the network.

This will include £250 million to support customers financially across the five-year period, which it says is an increase of 25% over PR19. This will support 500,000 customers and give direct help with water bills for 280,000 customers.

Yorkshire also plans to evolve its social tariff WaterSupport into a three banded tariff which will be means-tested, based on customer household income. This will allow it to help customers whose bills are lower than the current required level for help but are still struggling.

The company has also planned a spend of £3.1 billion to deliver secure, safe clean water supplies, including:

• £2.4 billion on mains replacement and refurbishment of critical storage and treatment assets
• £461 million to secure future water resources and upgrade water meters to smart meters
• £95 million to maintain safe, clean water supplies
• £83 million to enhance collaboration with landowners and stakeholders to improve land management

Nicola Shaw, chief executive of Yorkshire Water, said: “This submission marks our largest ever environmental investment and illustrates our commitment to deliver what our customers expect. The programme will protect and improve the quality of water in rivers and at coasts, leading to cleaner, safer water environments that support recreation and biodiversity across the region.

“While this is what we hope to do in the next five years in terms of investment, it does not stand alone. We are working internally to ensure all our colleagues are engaged and pulling in the right direction to deliver this ambitious plan.”

Yorkshire was awarded an extra £158 million by the Competition and Markets Authority for PR19 after the company challenged the regulator’s final determination.