To combat water scarcity, two new water reservoirs are to be constructed
Environment secretary Steve Reed has announced the seizure of the planning system to approve two new water reservoirs, the first to be built in 30 years.
The reservoirs will help to tackle water security in Britain, which has caused issues with housebuilding and risk of drought.
Water scarcity prevents housebuilding
The two reservoirs have been given ‘nationally significant’ status, meaning that planning is the responsibility of the secretary of state and delays should be minimal.
One project will be located in East Anglia, while the other will be in Lincolnshire, and will shore up water resources for over 750,000 homes in areas at most risk of water shortage.
The government has been warned that, without infrastructure overhauls, the growth of the UK population and decline of older infrastructure mean the UK could have no clean water by 2035. Therefore, new legislation means that water infrastructure like the two new water reservoirs will automatically gain nationally significant status.
Thousands of homes in areas such as Cambridge and North Sussex haves been unable to start construction due to concerns with water scarcity. These reservoirs and ones to be proposed will tackle this and allow those homes to be built.
New water reservoirs now in the consultation phase
Water minister, Emma Hardy, said: “Today we are backing the builders not the blockers, intervening in the national interest and slashing red tape to make the planning process faster to unblock nine new reservoirs.
“This Government will secure our water supply for future generations and unlock the building of thousands of homes as part of the Plan for Change.”
David Black, chief executive of Ofwat, said: “We welcome the clear focus the Government is placing upon accelerating the delivery of supply and resilience schemes that will meet our future water needs and support economic growth. Alongside the £2 billion of development funding announced at our 2024 Price Review, this will help us to deliver the largest programme of major water infrastructure projects – including nine new reservoirs – seen in decades.”
Anglian Water are handling the Lincolnshire reservoir, which is currently set to be built south of Sleaford and aim for operation by 2040. In partnership with Cambridge Water, Anglian Water are also to propose a new Fens Reservoir, between Chatteris and March, set to be finished in 2036.
The Lincolnshire reservoir alone will provide up to 166m litres of water per day across 500,000 homes, while the Fens will provide 87m litres per day across 250,000 homes in what is currently the driest area of the UK.
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