Reservoir access routes

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We need to create new public roads for vehicles to get in and out of the reservoir site, both while the reservoir is being built and when it opens to the public.

We've been granted planning permission for two access routes to the reservoir – one from the north and one from the south, as set out on the below map.

We want to create access roads from the north and the south to help minimise the overall impact of traffic and almost halve the amount of ancient woodland we will need to remove along the northern route.

We will use the northern route for most of the reservoir construction vehicles and people travelling from further afield to the site, with the southern route mainly used by local communities. We’ve designed it so both roads end in the site’s car park and the northern route is single track. This is to avoid the routes being used as a ‘rat run’, something people told us they were particularly concerned about.

You can read more in the ‘You said, we did’ consultation report we published, summarising what people told us during our Spring 2020 public consultation and how we’re responding to the points raised. Further information can also be found in our Havant Thicket Reservoir Design & Access Statement.

The northern access route

A number of routes from the north were considered during the public consultation in 2008 and the preferred one came from the A3(M) Junction 2 (J2) via the B2149. At the time, this was supported by a majority of people because it was close to the A3(M) and avoided residential areas in Warren Park and Rowlands Castle. This helped us develop our updated northern access route proposal (see map above) which formed part of the planning applications we submitted in late 2020 and which was then granted planning permission in Autumn 2021. From the B2149, 200 metres of new track will be needed through woodland, then the road will follow the route of an existing Forestry England track in Havant Thicket woodland to reach the reservoir.

In December 2022, we completed improvement work to the B2149 around the area where it will be joined by the new northern access route. This involved resurfacing and reprofiling the carriageway to improve visibility and safety. Building a new junction for the northern access route onto the B2149 was completed in Spring 2023, with construction of the rest of the new road due to be finished by late 2023.

The southern access route

As we studied the reservoir site in more detail, through developing our planning applications, we were able to make changes to the design of the embankment. This created more space on the south west side of the site, meaning there is enough room there now to build the embankment, an access road and a separate path for walkers, cyclists and others. So we developed a plan to create an access route from the south, in addition to the northern one. This access point will come off Swanmore Road and follow a new road on the site along the side of the reservoir and up to the car park and visitor centre.

We need to create new public roads for vehicles to get in and out of the reservoir site, both while the reservoir is being built and when it opens to the public.

We've been granted planning permission for two access routes to the reservoir – one from the north and one from the south, as set out on the below map.

We want to create access roads from the north and the south to help minimise the overall impact of traffic and almost halve the amount of ancient woodland we will need to remove along the northern route.

We will use the northern route for most of the reservoir construction vehicles and people travelling from further afield to the site, with the southern route mainly used by local communities. We’ve designed it so both roads end in the site’s car park and the northern route is single track. This is to avoid the routes being used as a ‘rat run’, something people told us they were particularly concerned about.

You can read more in the ‘You said, we did’ consultation report we published, summarising what people told us during our Spring 2020 public consultation and how we’re responding to the points raised. Further information can also be found in our Havant Thicket Reservoir Design & Access Statement.

The northern access route

A number of routes from the north were considered during the public consultation in 2008 and the preferred one came from the A3(M) Junction 2 (J2) via the B2149. At the time, this was supported by a majority of people because it was close to the A3(M) and avoided residential areas in Warren Park and Rowlands Castle. This helped us develop our updated northern access route proposal (see map above) which formed part of the planning applications we submitted in late 2020 and which was then granted planning permission in Autumn 2021. From the B2149, 200 metres of new track will be needed through woodland, then the road will follow the route of an existing Forestry England track in Havant Thicket woodland to reach the reservoir.

In December 2022, we completed improvement work to the B2149 around the area where it will be joined by the new northern access route. This involved resurfacing and reprofiling the carriageway to improve visibility and safety. Building a new junction for the northern access route onto the B2149 was completed in Spring 2023, with construction of the rest of the new road due to be finished by late 2023.

The southern access route

As we studied the reservoir site in more detail, through developing our planning applications, we were able to make changes to the design of the embankment. This created more space on the south west side of the site, meaning there is enough room there now to build the embankment, an access road and a separate path for walkers, cyclists and others. So we developed a plan to create an access route from the south, in addition to the northern one. This access point will come off Swanmore Road and follow a new road on the site along the side of the reservoir and up to the car park and visitor centre.

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  • Share I've just read with interest the slight changes you are making to the access routes for the reservoir. On a similar theme, would it not be prudent to provide cycle access from Horndean and Rowlands Castle directions to connect with the northern approach from the B2149. I have used this road regularly to access Horndean and it is busy - can a cycle path alongside the B2149 be included in the scheme to improve access and cut the amount of cars and pollution that the reservoir will generate? If it is being intended to be used for leisure activities access by bicycle from Horndean, Rowalnds Castle and Havant, where the existing cycle path could be joined up wit the cycle route from Horndean to QECP, then this would seem a logical plan. on Facebook Share I've just read with interest the slight changes you are making to the access routes for the reservoir. On a similar theme, would it not be prudent to provide cycle access from Horndean and Rowlands Castle directions to connect with the northern approach from the B2149. I have used this road regularly to access Horndean and it is busy - can a cycle path alongside the B2149 be included in the scheme to improve access and cut the amount of cars and pollution that the reservoir will generate? If it is being intended to be used for leisure activities access by bicycle from Horndean, Rowalnds Castle and Havant, where the existing cycle path could be joined up wit the cycle route from Horndean to QECP, then this would seem a logical plan. on Twitter Share I've just read with interest the slight changes you are making to the access routes for the reservoir. On a similar theme, would it not be prudent to provide cycle access from Horndean and Rowlands Castle directions to connect with the northern approach from the B2149. I have used this road regularly to access Horndean and it is busy - can a cycle path alongside the B2149 be included in the scheme to improve access and cut the amount of cars and pollution that the reservoir will generate? If it is being intended to be used for leisure activities access by bicycle from Horndean, Rowalnds Castle and Havant, where the existing cycle path could be joined up wit the cycle route from Horndean to QECP, then this would seem a logical plan. on Linkedin Email I've just read with interest the slight changes you are making to the access routes for the reservoir. On a similar theme, would it not be prudent to provide cycle access from Horndean and Rowlands Castle directions to connect with the northern approach from the B2149. I have used this road regularly to access Horndean and it is busy - can a cycle path alongside the B2149 be included in the scheme to improve access and cut the amount of cars and pollution that the reservoir will generate? If it is being intended to be used for leisure activities access by bicycle from Horndean, Rowalnds Castle and Havant, where the existing cycle path could be joined up wit the cycle route from Horndean to QECP, then this would seem a logical plan. link

    I've just read with interest the slight changes you are making to the access routes for the reservoir. On a similar theme, would it not be prudent to provide cycle access from Horndean and Rowlands Castle directions to connect with the northern approach from the B2149. I have used this road regularly to access Horndean and it is busy - can a cycle path alongside the B2149 be included in the scheme to improve access and cut the amount of cars and pollution that the reservoir will generate? If it is being intended to be used for leisure activities access by bicycle from Horndean, Rowalnds Castle and Havant, where the existing cycle path could be joined up wit the cycle route from Horndean to QECP, then this would seem a logical plan.

    ChrisHandford asked 10 months ago

    Dear Chris,

    Thank you for visiting the Havant Thicket website and for your question about the possibility of a cycle lane on the B2149.

    While we are working closely with a number of local organisations on the development of Havant Thicket Reservoir, the responsibility of the B2149 ultimately sits with Hampshire County Council, as the Highways Authority. It would be their decision whether to install a dedicated cycle lane along the road. We will raise this idea again at our regular meetings with them.

    We would like to reassure you that we are considering the needs of local cyclists carefully as we plan the Havant Thicket Reservoir scheme. We are proposing a north-south link between Havant Thicket and the land to the north which will provide a safer and more attractive alternative to cycling on the B2149. The reservoir planning permission includes new and upgraded cycle and pedestrian crossings further south, to provide improved east-west connections across the B2149 to Havant Thicket.

    Once Havant Thicket Reservoir is complete, it will become a new green leisure hub for the local area, comprising a network of walking, cycling and horse-riding routes. We are working closely with local community groups and organisations, including Cycling UK, to progress this and we are very grateful for the continued support and patience of local people while this work takes place.

    Kind regards,

    Ruari Maybank

    Project Director, Havant Thicket Reservoir

    Portsmouth Water