England's water regulator has unveiled a streamlined approval process designed to accelerate the delivery of large-scale water infrastructure, merging two previously separate oversight frameworks into a single end-to-end pathway.
Ofwat announced the launch of the Combined Gated Process on 20 March 2026, consolidating the Regulators' Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) gated approach with Ofwat's own Major Projects commercial and delivery stages. The new framework will govern the Major Water Infrastructure Programme (MWIP), which encompasses 30 large-scale projects set out at the 2024 price review (PR24) and is expected to be delivered over the next 15 years.
The Combined Gated Process comprises six stages and gates, running from initial optioneering through to project closeout. Four of these, Gates A to D, are formal decision points at which regulators assess a project's progress, risk profile, cost position and readiness to advance. RAPID will retain oversight of the earlier stages, covering Gates A and B, while Ofwat's Major Projects team will take the lead through the later commercial and delivery stages.
The change follows feedback from water companies that operating under two separate frameworks created duplication, additional administrative burden and uncertainty around timelines and decision points. Ofwat says the single framework is intended to increase clarity, reduce duplication and remove organisational silos, while improving outcomes for both customers and the environment.
A broad group of partner regulators will be involved throughout the process. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), the Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Natural England (NE) each have defined roles within the combined structure.
The MWIP covers a diverse portfolio at varying stages of maturity. It includes proposed reservoirs and large-scale water transfer schemes, which, when completed, are expected to address approximately a third of England's long-term water supply deficit, as well as projects already constructed, such as the Thames Tideway Tunnel. Eligible projects are those classified as RAPID Strategic Resource Options and those being delivered through competitive tendering models, namely Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) or Specified Infrastructure Project Regulations (SIPR).
The announcement forms part of a broader push by the regulator to ensure critical infrastructure progresses at pace while maintaining appropriate protections for customers and the natural environment.
