Liquid assets: rethinking water’s role in economic development and placemaking

In this special guest episode, LED Confidential welcomes Alex Plant, CEO of Scottish Water, for a deep dive into the role of water utilities in local economic development. With £110 billion of investment planned across the UK over the next five years, Alex shares insights on how water infrastructure can unlock housing, attract inward investment, and support climate adaptation through nature-based solutions and blue-green infrastructure.Drawing on experiences from Scotland, England, and global best practice, Alex gives his expert take on the potential of water companies as anchor institutions, the impact of ownership models, and the urgent need for strategic regional planning. From smart canals in Glasgow to wetlands in Norfolk, this episode reveals how water can be a catalyst for prosperity—if we’re bold enough to rethink how we plan and collaborate.Independent Water Commission Review of the sector in England and Wales