EWSC Enabling Actions

Environmental Incentive Payments

Improving uptake and awareness of environmental incentive payments within the water sector and beyond.

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Project Description

All English water companies now offer environmental incentive payments for developers to build homes that consume less water than that required by building regulations. Unfortunately, there is very little awareness about environmental incentives amongst key stakeholders, and uptake with developers minimal.

EWSC addressed this issue by providing an easy-to-access source of information on environmental incentive payments and developing guidance to support standardisation across the water industry.

Read the latest news from this project:

EWSC One-Pager on Environmental Incentives

Note: All EWSC outputs can be accessed via our Project Reports page.

Project Reports

Environmental Incentives: Standardisation across the water sector to deliver water smart housing

This is a collaborative review of the current environmental incentives proposed by water companies. It sets out guidance on how incentives could be standardised to promote uptake with developers. Delivered by United Utilities and Arup.

Read the report here

Summary of water sector environmental incentives: 2025-2026 Charging Period

This is a go-to resource on environmental incentive payments for developers and local authorities , compiling all the environmental incentive offerings from English water companies into a single document. Delivered by Thames Water.