Board Changes

Northumbrian Water Group PLC
25 November 2005



                          Northumbrian Water Group plc
                           Northumbrian Water Limited
                                 Board Changes

The Board of Northumbrian Water Group plc ("NWG") announces that its Chairman,
Sir Frederick Holliday, has indicated that having reached the age of 70 he
intends to retire from the Board at the Annual General Meeting on 27th July
2006.

The Board has decided, following consultation with major shareholders, that Sir
Derek Wanless will succeed Sir Frederick as Chairman of NWG.

The Board will be sad to lose the strong leadership, wisdom and humanity, which
Sir Frederick brought to its deliberations. It is confident that Sir Derek will
be an outstanding successor. Sir Derek Wanless was Chief Executive of the
Natwest Group between 1992 and 1999. He has been a non-executive director of NWG
since December 2003 and is also a non-executive director of Northern Rock plc.

Sir Frederick Holliday said. "We are delighted that Derek will become the next
Chairman of Northumbrian Water Group. His knowledge and experience will be a
tremendous asset to the Group in the years ahead."

NWG has a clear and increasing focus on its core water and sewerage business,
Northumbrian Water Limited ("NWL"), its principal subsidiary. Given the
importance of NWL's business within NWG, the Boards of NWG and NWL have agreed
to appoint the non-executive directors of NWG, Sir Patrick Brown, Ron Lepin,
Martin Negre, Sir Derek Wanless and Jenny Williams, to the Board of NWL. Sir
Derek will also chair the Board of NWL following Sir Frederick's retirement.

These appointments, which will take effect from 1 January 2006, have been
discussed with Philip Fletcher, the Director General of Water Services. The
existing non-executive directors of NWL, Alastair Balls, Anita Frew and Alex
Scott-Barrett, will continue to serve on the NWL Board which will remain
compliant with NWL's licence obligations in respect of independent directors.

For further information contact:

Northumbrian Water           0191 301 6166
John Mowbray

Finsbury                     020 7251 3801
Andrew Mitchell
Sally Hogan




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