Piping Up
Think tank: Social Market Foundation
Author(s): John Asthana Gibson
April 23, 2025
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation looks at unlocking the potential of independent water companies.
New Appointments and Variations (NAVs) were introduced in 1991 as a way of increasing levels of competition in the water sector. They serve an important role in infrastructure development, connecting a fifth of new homes to the water supply.
Drawing on literature findings and insights from a range of in-depth interviews with experts, this briefing paper examines the challenges and opportunities these companies face, and outlines reforms that could help accelerate infrastructure development in the UK.
