Holding(s) in Company

Northumbrian Water Group PLC
23 December 2004

                                  SCHEDULE 10

                   NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1.     Name of company

       Northumbrian Water Group plc

2.     Name of shareholder having a major interest

       Standard Life Group

3.     Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding of the shareholder named in 2 above
       or in respect of a non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that
       person's spouse or children under the age of 18.

       As Above

4.     Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of shares held by each of them
       Vidacos Nominees


5.     Number of shares/amount of stock acquired

       276,250

6.     Percentage of issued class

       Not stated

7.     Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

       N/A

8.     Percentage of issued class

       N/A

9.     Class of security

       Ordinary 10p Shares

10.    Date of transaction

       22 December 2004

11.    Date company informed

       23 December 2004

12.    Total holding following this notification

       15,573,734

13.    Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

       3.003%

14.    Any additional information

15.    Name of contact and telephone number for queries

       Martin Parker  01913 016704

16.    Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification.

       Martin Parker, Company Secretary

Date of notification:  23 December 2004




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