EWSC Project Reports

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The Community-Led Stewardship Insights Report collates the findings from Phase Two of the Community-Led Stewardship work-stream of the Enabling Water Smart Communities (EWSC) project. This phase tested the Water Stewardship Blueprint - a framework designed in Phase One to support the integration of long-term water management into new housing development - with two Community Land Trusts (CLTs) at different development stages.

The research found that effective water stewardship faces structural and coordination-based challenges rather than technical ones. While early-stage ambitions for integrated water management are often high, they can be diluted as projects move through planning, delivery, and handover. This is due to fragmented governance, unclear ownership and short-term financial pressures.

In addition, we have created a legal toolkit in partnership with Anthony Collins Solicitors. Both documents are available for download below: