Today (15 September) the High Court has rejected claims that the government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan is unlawful, following claims brought forward by the Marine Conservation Society and WildFish.

Today’s judgment has confirmed that the government has gone further than existing law by introducing targets to reduce the number of spills which exceed those required by law. These targets prioritise action in particularly important and sensitive areas - including around bathing waters, chalk streams and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).

The Plan complements the government’s long-term strategy to transform our water environment through the Plan for Water, driving forward more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement.

In response to today’s judgment, a Defra spokesperson said:

We are pleased with today’s judgment. Our plan sets strict targets for water companies to address storm overflows, and the Court has highlighted that it goes further than existing legislation.

We are clear that the volume of sewage being discharged into our waters is utterly unacceptable, and water companies need to clean up their act.

That is why we are driving forward more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement.

https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/15/high-court-judgment-on-storm-overflows-discharge-reduction-plan/