Important Update: Water Pre-Development Enquiry Charges Changing from April 1st, 2025

26 March 2025

From April 1st, 2025, several water companies across England and Wales are implementing changes to their pre-development enquiry charges. These adjustments impact Combined Developer Enquiries, Clean Developer Enquiries, and Waste Developer Enquiries.

Key Changes Across Water Companies

• Thames Water – Previously free, Thames Water will now charge for both clean and wastewater pre-planning applications, requiring upfront fees to assess network capacity for proposed developments.
• United Utilities – The 2025/2026 Developer Services Charges Scheme introduces new costs for water and sewerage network impact assessments.
• Severn Trent Water – Revised charges apply as part of their broader infrastructure investment program.
• South Staffs Water – Updated metered water charges now include a volumetric charge, and a standing charge based on meter size.
• Anglian Water, Southern Water, Affinity Water, Wessex Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, and Northumbrian Water – Adjustments are in line with regulatory frameworks, with some companies undergoing price reviews with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

A full breakdown of the revised costs is provided in the table below:

Any applications submitted before April 1, 2025, will still be charged at the current rate (or remain free where applicable). After this date, the new charges will take effect.

These changes are part of a broader trend towards sustainable infrastructure investment and regulatory compliance. We advise our clients to review the updated charging arrangements and incorporate them into project planning to avoid unforeseen costs.

For more details, or to discuss a project, contact our utilities team:

  Emma Harris

  emma.harris@m-ec.co.uk

  01530 264753

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