The Regulators' Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) – made up of the Environment Agency, Drinking Water Inspectorate and Ofwat - is consulting on its future role in delivering major water infrastructure in England.

Since its creation in 2019, the number of major water supply projects under RAPID oversight has grown from 17 to 30

In July 2025, the Independent Water Commission (IWC) chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe published its final report - recommendation 75 called for RAPID to be expanded and strengthened.

The Government's White Paper, A New Vision for Water, published in January 2026, backed the recommendation and asked RAPID to consult on expanding its role to include wastewater projects and strategically important projects.

The evidence gathered through the consultation will shape RAPID’s remit during the Transition Period to a new, integrated regulator in England. The responses will help shape how RAPID and the Major Water Infrastructure Programme operates in England during the Transition Period. The consultation will not pre-empt new regulatory arrangements, but will be used to inform policy and operational development of the functions of the new regulator.

RAPID is seeking views via the consultation on four areas:

1. Scope and remit. RAPID currently oversees water supply infrastructure only. The consultation asks whether the remit should be extended beyond water supply to include two further categories - wastewater and other strategically important projects

2. What criteria should determine which projects receive RAPID oversight - defining criteria for RAPID involvement: asking what should trigger its involvement, and the types of projects that should fall inside or outside of the RAPID scope

3. How RAPID can better align with planning and procurement processes to reduce delays and duplication

4. How RAPID's delivery role should work alongside new regional water planning arrangements

Key issues the consultation addresses include:

• Scope and remit: asking whether RAPID should go beyond Strategic Resource Options to include infrastructure that places significant demand on water and wastewater systems. This could include large non-household growth hubs, data centres and industrial clusters, or sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).
• Accelerating delivery through regulatory coordination: asking for views on how its processes can be better aligned with planning and procurement checkpoints. This could enable a single set of submissions across regulatory, planning and procurement where possible, while reducing duplication. RAPID has already begun work on this by streamlining its gated process, updating guidance and promoting cross-sector collaboration.
• RAPID’s role alongside regional system planning: RAPID is looking for thoughts on how its role could complement regional systems planning, seeking insights on how its delivery-focused coordination role can best complement emerging architecture and supplement national co-ordination and coherence

The consultation covers England only – the regulators will consult separately on RAPID's remit in Wales.

RAPID says it particularly welcomes responses from:

• Water companies, delivery partners and regional groups
• Planning, growth and infrastructure authorities
• Environmental and consumer groups

RAPID will publish an outcome document after the consultation has concluded, expected in autumn 2026.

Deadline to respond to the consultation is 21 July 2026 – click here for more information and to respond via the Citizen Space consultation platform.

Responses can also be sent via email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or sent by post to: Consultation: the Future of RAPID Ofwat, Centre City Tower, 7 Hill Street, Birmingham, B5 4UA.