Planning and Construction

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

The reservoir will cost around £340 million to complete and will be funded by payments from Southern Water for water resources over the long term.

It will be the first large-scale new water storage reservoir in the UK since the 1980s and the first time two water companies have worked together in this way to make sure there’s enough reliable water for the future.

Further details on the timeline for the scheme and key aspects of it, such as the new reservoir access routes and pipeline, can be found via the links below. There's also lots of information in the Q&A section of this page.

Planning permission

On 9 June 2021, East Hampshire District Council’s Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission for Havant Thicket Reservoir. The decision came after councillors in neighbouring Havant Borough gave their support to our reservoir proposals on 3 June 2021, along with our plans for a reservoir pipeline.

Formal planning permission has been granted and the reservoir is due to be completed and operational by 2029. Further details can be found on the links below:

In August 2020, we published our ‘You said, we did’ report, summarising what we people told us during the consultation we held in the spring of that year, as well as setting out how we’re responding to the points raised.

We’ve considered many things as we prepared our updated plan, including:

  • The environmental impact and mitigation
  • Archaeological and cultural heritage on and around the site
  • Traffic impact
  • Water quality and treatment
  • Facilities for the site, including car parking
  • Public access and links to footpaths, cycling routes, bridleways and roads
  • Views of the local communities.

Please note that the reservoir planning application was a ‘hybrid’ proposal - this means part of the scheme was submitted in detail (for example, storage capacity, embankment, access points and viewing areas), and part was submitted in outline (such as, the wetland, control house, visitor centre and car park, access routes and recreational facilities).

The designs for the outline elements of the reservoir are currently illustrative, but within certain parameters - for example, maximum height and footprint or area covered - to ensure that the impacts of the scheme can be properly assessed and the benefits guaranteed.

We’re submitting detailed planning applications for the above elements at the appropriate time, as the reservoir scheme progresses.

Further information can be found in our Havant Thicket Reservoir Design & Access Statement.

The reservoir will cost around £340 million to complete and will be funded by payments from Southern Water for water resources over the long term.

It will be the first large-scale new water storage reservoir in the UK since the 1980s and the first time two water companies have worked together in this way to make sure there’s enough reliable water for the future.

Further details on the timeline for the scheme and key aspects of it, such as the new reservoir access routes and pipeline, can be found via the links below. There's also lots of information in the Q&A section of this page.

Planning permission

On 9 June 2021, East Hampshire District Council’s Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission for Havant Thicket Reservoir. The decision came after councillors in neighbouring Havant Borough gave their support to our reservoir proposals on 3 June 2021, along with our plans for a reservoir pipeline.

Formal planning permission has been granted and the reservoir is due to be completed and operational by 2029. Further details can be found on the links below:

In August 2020, we published our ‘You said, we did’ report, summarising what we people told us during the consultation we held in the spring of that year, as well as setting out how we’re responding to the points raised.

We’ve considered many things as we prepared our updated plan, including:

  • The environmental impact and mitigation
  • Archaeological and cultural heritage on and around the site
  • Traffic impact
  • Water quality and treatment
  • Facilities for the site, including car parking
  • Public access and links to footpaths, cycling routes, bridleways and roads
  • Views of the local communities.

Please note that the reservoir planning application was a ‘hybrid’ proposal - this means part of the scheme was submitted in detail (for example, storage capacity, embankment, access points and viewing areas), and part was submitted in outline (such as, the wetland, control house, visitor centre and car park, access routes and recreational facilities).

The designs for the outline elements of the reservoir are currently illustrative, but within certain parameters - for example, maximum height and footprint or area covered - to ensure that the impacts of the scheme can be properly assessed and the benefits guaranteed.

We’re submitting detailed planning applications for the above elements at the appropriate time, as the reservoir scheme progresses.

Further information can be found in our Havant Thicket Reservoir Design & Access Statement.

Ask us a question

Please give us your questions and comments and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

You need to be signed in to add your question.

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Who is the designer rather than the contractor?50 years ago l worked on the Brenig where Binnies were the designers. I worked for Sir Lindsay Parkinson subsequently Faircloughs, the contractors

    Bert Simmons asked about 1 year ago

    Hi there, the design for the reservoir has been developed by Atkins to date, with Future Water MJJV now taking this on as the appointed contractor for the reservoir construction. Future Water is a joint venture between Mackley and Jones Brothers, which have over 150 years of civil engineering experience between them. Atkins will still be involved, to provide input and oversight into the final design work.

    For the reservoir pipeline, Ward & Burke have been appointed to design and build this.