Technical approach

How we plan to meet the expectations of the National Framework 

The National Framework sets out expectations for regional plans in the form of requirements.

These requirements are split into things the regional plans ‘must’, ‘should’, and ‘could’ cover or include.

As we develop the Water Resources North Regional Plan, we will ensure that we continually check that we are meeting the National Framework’s expectations.

How we are developing our Plan

Although the core of the group is formed, and funded, by Yorkshire Water (YW), Northumbrian Water (NWL) and Hartlepool Water (HW), WReN will engage with, and actively involve, all of those who have an interest in water resources in our region. This will include sectors other than public water supply who make beneficial use of the water in our environment, such as agriculture, industry and energy. The importance of water to our region’s environment, ecology and biodiversity will also play a key role in shaping our future plans.

WReN is working with customers, water dependent sectors of the economy, other stakeholders such as environmental groups and regulators, to shape a long-term plan for managing water resources in the region, which will be published for consultation in early 2022. Where this plan impacts on public water supply (PWS) – the drinking water that is supplied by the water companies in our region – it will be reflected in water companies’ statutory Water Resource Management Plans (WRMPs) in 2024. Where this plan affects other sectors, we will look to work with those sectors to understand how they can also support long term water resources resilience in the north, including looking for opportunities for collaborative solutions.

More details on how we are developing our Plan can be found in the 'Document library' section.