Blog Layout

A Farewell to our Founder

February 4, 2025

As 2024 came to a close, we reflected on a truly remarkable year of progress and innovation for the Envireau Water team. But now, our focus turns to what lies ahead in 2025.

Marking our 27th year of operation, the new year brings significant milestones, including the departure of our Chairman and founder, James Dodds.


With nearly 40 years of national and international industry experience, James has built an extraordinary career. From starting his career as a Hydrogeologist in the UK in 1987, establishing what is now Envireau Water in the attic of his home in 1998, to becoming a nationally recognised expert in water management and abstraction licensing, his accomplishments are many.


The fundamental philosophy James established in 1998 was to deliver a high-quality, technically supported, pragmatic consulting service that provided the best possible support and guidance to our clients. This vision has since been the foundation of our success and growth. Who could have imagined that a two-person operation in a single room would flourish into a thriving consultancy with 24 employees and four offices across the UK?


Our Managing Director, Dr Phil Ham, commented: 'James leaves a lasting legacy on the business, the team and the industry for his regulatory tenacity. With a strong senior leadership team in place, Envireau Water will continue to grow and thrive in the years ahead, as we evolve with the times and continue to tackle industry challenges head-on. And, of course, this is not goodbye, and we look forward to collaborating with James in the future.'


James' last working day at Envireau Water is 5th February, after which he will continue working with Envireau Water and the wider RSK Group on an Associate basis.

Share

By Rachael Plant March 11, 2025
Achieving nutrient neutrality is a challenging task, and is one that developers all over the country have battled to achieve over the last 5-6 years. In March 2022, Natural England issued a directive to Local Planning Authorities, County Councils, the Environment Agency, the Planning Inspectorate, Natural Resources Wales, and DLUHC stating that, in specific river catchments, developments should not be permitted if the LPA cannot definitively ensure that it will not adversely impact protected environmental sites due to increased levels of nitrate and/or phosphate. While the current approach is efficient, robust, and objective, it can also be slow, costly, and overly complex—leading to potential project delays and increased expenses for housing developers. To address these challenges, the government released the Planning Reform Working Paper in December 2024. This initiative aims to unlock approximately 28,000 homes across seven areas in England that had been stalled due to nutrient neutrality concerns, backed by £47 million from the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund.
By Rachael Plant February 4, 2025
The second new team member to join us this year, we’re thrilled to welcome Chris Allman to our growing team as a Senior Hydrogeologist!
By Rachael Plant January 28, 2025
Understanding current and future flood and coastal erosion risks is essential to help policymakers, developers, practitioners, and communities adapt to a changing climate.
Show More
By Rachael Plant March 11, 2025
Achieving nutrient neutrality is a challenging task, and is one that developers all over the country have battled to achieve over the last 5-6 years. In March 2022, Natural England issued a directive to Local Planning Authorities, County Councils, the Environment Agency, the Planning Inspectorate, Natural Resources Wales, and DLUHC stating that, in specific river catchments, developments should not be permitted if the LPA cannot definitively ensure that it will not adversely impact protected environmental sites due to increased levels of nitrate and/or phosphate. While the current approach is efficient, robust, and objective, it can also be slow, costly, and overly complex—leading to potential project delays and increased expenses for housing developers. To address these challenges, the government released the Planning Reform Working Paper in December 2024. This initiative aims to unlock approximately 28,000 homes across seven areas in England that had been stalled due to nutrient neutrality concerns, backed by £47 million from the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund.
By Rachael Plant February 4, 2025
The second new team member to join us this year, we’re thrilled to welcome Chris Allman to our growing team as a Senior Hydrogeologist!
By Rachael Plant January 28, 2025
Understanding current and future flood and coastal erosion risks is essential to help policymakers, developers, practitioners, and communities adapt to a changing climate.
By Rachael Plant January 9, 2025
As we kick off 2025, we are delighted to welcome Thomas Handley to our team as an Environmental Technician.
Show More
Share by: