Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the criteria is for designated Bathing Water site status.

The Bathing Water Regulations 2013 require the Secretary of State to identify and maintain a list of the surface waters in England where a large number of people are expected to bathe, having regard in particular to past trends and any infrastructure or facilities provided, or other measures taken, to promote bathing at those waters.

All applications for bathing water designation are considered against these factors. More information about the application process is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bathing-waters-apply-for-designation-or-de-designation.

Our aim is to ensure the bathing waters application guidance is as clear as possible for applicants, and we will provide further information on any updates in due course.