Story perspectives

Reform UK promises scrap hosepipe bans, new water storage

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Reform UK says it will scrap hosepipe bans and build reservoirs and desalination plants if it enters government.
The party also plans to drop the 20 % per-capita water-use cut target for 2038.
Reform would label any water-storage project over 10 million cubic metres as “significant infrastructure” to simplify planning.
Critics say the £7.5 bn Abingdon reservoir and £500 m Beckton desalination plant are costly, with Reform providing no funding details.

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Story summary

Reform UK says it will scrap hosepipe bans and build reservoirs and desalination plants if it enters government.
The party also plans to drop the 20 % per-capita water-use cut target for 2038.
Reform would label any water-storage project over 10 million cubic metres as “significant infrastructure” to simplify planning.
Critics say the £7.5 bn Abingdon reservoir and £500 m Beckton desalination plant are costly, with Reform providing no funding details.