Regulatory Podcast Episode 6: Spice Up Your Regulation – The Water White Paper
February 19, 2026
The Regulatory Podcast is back for 2026, and this time we’re telling you what we really, really want from the Water White Paper.
In this episode, our host Doug Scott is joined by Dr Michael Bowes to examine the Government’s recent White Paper on reforming the English water sector and what it means for regulators, undertakers, and practitioners across multiple disciplines.
Our speakers explore how far the proposals adopt the architecture of the Cunliffe Report, including the move towards a supervisory model of regulation, the consolidation of existing regulators, and the increasing alignment of economic and environmental objectives. The discussion considers whether the reforms represent genuine structural transformation or risk becoming high-level aspirations without the legislative and institutional detail needed for effective implementation.
Doug and Michael also consider industry reaction to the White Paper and who should be paying close attention to these reforms. Does the direction of travel signal a fundamental shift in the culture of water regulation, or simply a more complex phase of turbulence ahead? And where do the Spice Girls feature in all this?
Listen in to find out:
References:
The White Paper: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-new-vision-for-water-white-paper
Summary and Analysis of the Cunliffe Report: https://6pumpcourt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Water-Law-Industry-Group-update.pdf
