Work officially begins on first new reservoir to be built in the South for 30 years

Artist's impression of what the new site would look like

Work has officially begun today at the first new reservoir to be built in the country since the 1970s.

The 8.7 billion litre storage reservoir spans 160 hectares across Leigh Park, Havant and Rowlands Castle in East Hampshire and will cost around £340 million to plan, build and fill with water.The Havant Thicket Reservoir is a collaboration between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water and is designed to safeguard water resources for years to come.The planning application for the reservoir, along with a separate one for the pipeline which is needed to fill and remove water to supply to customers, was considered and granted permission by councillors at Havant Borough Council and East Hampshire District Council in 2021.

  • ITV News Meridian has been speaking to Lawrence Gosden, CEO, Southern Water and Bob Taylor, CEO, Portsmouth Water

Contractors have been appointed for the £167m scheme at Havant Thicket and it's claimed will supply up to 21 million litres of water each day.

The current approved plan for the reservoir has no element of recycled water associated with it.

There are plans to build a visitor centre on the site with a café, toilets and space for education and community activities.

The reservoir site would create a new, healthy and safe place for people to visit – with footpaths for walking, as well as routes for cycling and horse riding, facilities for bird watching, picnic and play areas and car parking.

The reservoir would be about one mile long and would be up to 18 metres deep.

Portsmouth Water are working with Forestry England, who own and look after the neighbouring Havant Thicket woodland, and Staunton Country Park (which is owned and run by Hampshire County Council) to see how we can manage the sites together in the future.

This approach, along with lots of feedback from local communities and environmental organisations, has helped them choose the following proposed facilities, including:

  • A wetland habitat to support threatened bird species and provide areas for endangered bat species to find food

  • A visitor centre with a café and facilities for communities and schools

  • A network of trails and paths for walking, cycling and horse riding, linking to others in the wider area

  • New woodland, hedgerows and wildflower planting

The reservoir will take nine years in total to plan, design and build.

Around 12.5 hectares of ancient woodland would need to be removed to build the reservoir, however the company say they want to replant and improve 200 hectares of woodland.

The reservoir is an environmentally-led project, with the aim of protecting two world-renowned chalk streams in Hampshire - the River Test and the River Itchen.

Once complete, it will also be home to a new green leisure hub, looking to benefit the community and wildlife.Havant Thicket Reservoir could open fully to the public in 2029.

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