New reservoir at Abingdon to go ahead
The Government has given approval
The government have given approval for plans which will see a new reservoir built in Oxfordshire.
There's been much opposition locally to the plans for the project near Abingdon.
Thames Water say the plans will provide a secure and sustainable water supply for the next 50 years.
It follows a two year public consultation and will see a controversial new reservoir in Abingdon built and a recycling project in West London.
Chris Weston, CEO of Thames Water, said:
“I welcome the Secretary of State’s approval of our plan, which is a vital step as we work to secure future water supply for millions of people across the South East.
“In delivering this plan we will invest in new world-class infrastructure projects, continue to drive down leakage and reduce demand for water. In turn this will significantly reduce our reliance on groundwater sources that draw from chalk streams, protecting the local environment.”
Chris Murray, Independent Chair at Water Resources South East, said:
“Our aim is to secure the region’s water supplies and improve the environment for the future. The government’s support of this plan is a welcome step as we work to meet the challenges ahead, including ensuring sustainable levels of abstraction from rivers and streams, supplying water to a rising population and addressing climate change, which are already placing our region’s water resources under pressure.”
On reaching the decision to approve Thames Water's plan, the Secretary of State concluded that there is a strategic need for the following major projects:
• A new 150 Mm3 reservoir in Oxfordshire, known as the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO), with plans being developed in conjunction with Affinity Water and Southern Water.
• The Teddington Direct River Abstraction project, a new abstraction on the River Thames upstream of Teddington Weir, supported by recycled water. It will provide up to 75 million litres of water per day in drought conditions.
Thames Water has 60 days to make final updates to its plan before publishing it in October 2024.