Guidance from the Welsh Assembly Government to the director general of water services on the 2004 review of water price limits stresses that "economic development in Wales should not be hampered by lack of water sewage infrastructure”.
The HBF, together with the CBI and RICS, has lobbied hard for this recognition. When infrastructure constraints were first raised with the Assembly there was a general lack of knowledge of the problem.
This can be seen as a success for all the organisations involved.
However, this is only one battle and the war is yet to be won. The next stage is to put pressure on OFWAT to allow the finance needed by Welsh Water to enable economic development. The HBF will be writing to OFWAT and encourages members to do the same.