Angela Rayner’s plans to build 1.5 million more homes by 2029 will leave Britain at risk of drought, experts said last night.
The extra households will create demand for an extra half a billion litres of water every day.
Yet the Environment Agency says the UK is already heading for a shortage of more than a billion litres a day by the end of the decade.
The agency says that every part of England apart from the West Country faces a shortage of water by 2030, due to a failure to invest in infrastructure.
Water companies accuse regulator Ofwat, saying it has failed to permit investment required to replace the creaking Victorian infrastructure.
Later this week Ofwat will set levels of investment for the next five years.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed recently admitted: ‘Unless we take action to increase water supply then demand for drinking water will start to outstrip supply in a way that happens in Mediterranean countries.’
Angela Rayner’s (pictured) plans to build 1.5 million more homes by 2029 will leave Britain at risk of drought, experts said last night
The extra households will create demand for an extra half a billion litres of water every day
An industry source said: ‘This country hasn’t built a reservoir in 30 years despite the population surging.
‘Ofwat and the Government have got to step up this week if the country is to avoid this catastrophe.’