<h1>About the Reservoir</h1><h2>Why do we need a new reservoir?</h2><p><img class="alignright wp-image-8147 " src="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/P2-Why-do-we-need-a-new-reservoir-leakage-682x1024.jpg" alt="" width="326" height="489" />Havant Thicket Reservoir is first and foremost an environmentally-led project.</p><p>Its purpose is to protect some of our country’s rarest chalk streams – the River Test and the River Itchen.</p><p>Southern Water, which supplies our neighbours in West Sussex and Hampshire, is taking steps to protect these rivers by reducing the amount of water it takes from them, so it needs to find new sustainable sources of water to maintain water supplies to its customers in the Hampshire region.</p><p>Portsmouth Water is in a position to help with this major challenge. This is because of the large number of natural springs in the Havant area which provide 30% of the company’s water. These springs deliver a high quality, sustainable supply of water all year round and is thought to be the largest individual source of spring water in Europe.</p><p>In the winter, and during periods of high rainfall, there is a surplus of water from the springs over and above what Portsmouth Water needs for its own customers and this surplus flows straight out to sea. We can make better use of this excess water by storing it in the Havant Thicket Reservoir and using it to facilitate a bulk supply to Southern Water.</p><p>This will enable us to share water from our network with Southern Water and make water supplies much more resilient across the whole region.</p>

<h2>What else are we doing?</h2><p>As well as building a new water resource, we also want to reduce the amount of water we need by reducing leakage and encouraging customers to be more water efficient.</p><p>We reduced leakage on pipes in our area by more than 14% in 2018-19, by using technology and putting more leak detectors on the ground. We’ll reduce it by a further 20% by 2025 and by half by 2050.To find out more about reducing leakage <a href="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/environment/saving-water/">please click here</a>.</p><p>Water saving devices and metering are other ways in which we can all save water. <a href="https://www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk/portsmouth/free-water-saving-products" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here</a> for free products to help you save.</p>

<h2>Background to the reservoir</h2><h2><img class="alignleft wp-image-8146 " src="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/spring.jpg" alt="" width="381" height="253" /></h2><p><a href="#howitworks">The site for the reservoir</a> has been owned by Portsmouth Water since 1965 and covers 160 hectares.</p><p>It sits next to Rowlands Castle and Leigh Park and is bordered by Forestry England woodland at Havant Thicket and Staunton Country Park, which is owned by Hampshire County Council, to the south.</p><p>It was chosen as the perfect site for a reservoir because it sits in a valley on clay, which provides a natural seal for water. It is currently grassland and open space with a small area of trees and is used by communities via a network of paths which link Havant Thicket woodland and Staunton Country Park.</p><p>The site measures one mile (1.6km) in length from east to west and half a mile (0.8km) from north to south.</p><p>Plans for the reservoir were originally drawn up in 1964 and then again in 2008, when they were shared during a public consultation with the local community, businesses, organisations and schools through a series of talks, workshops and exhibitions.</p><p>There was strong support for the project at the time and the feedback helped shaped our plans for how the reservoir might look, a pipeline route and access road.</p><p>However, it didn’t go ahead back then as there wasn’t enough demand for the water.</p><p>Now there is a shortfall of water across the South East as a whole and plans for the reservoir have been included in <a href="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/news/publications/water-resources-planning/">Portsmouth Water’s</a> and <a href="https://www.southernwater.co.uk/water-resources-management-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southern Water’s</a> long-term water resources plans.</p><p>On 9 June 2021, East Hampshire District Council’s Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission for Havant Thicket Reservoir.</p><p>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.</p><p>Full planning permission has now been granted and work started on site in October 2021. The reservoir is due to be completed and operational by 2029.</p><p>Further details can be found on the links below:</p><ul><li><a href="https://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=530&amp;MId=11382&amp;fbclid=IwAR0n4VS79Uee8oWjajHTQNoijE8eDqjrD0LlXL4YsSQSh06i3CnL48DZV7c">Havant Borough Council Planning Committee</a></li><li><a href="https://easthants.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=158&amp;MId=3817&amp;Ver=4">East Hampshire District Council Planning Committee</a>.</li></ul><p>You can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxY8EAeeap4&amp;list=PLQ5-HB26gnEbKIL7765Tc78_lSuWu57ks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">watch our video</a> showing what the reservoir would look like, once completed.</p>

<h2>The benefits of a new reservoir</h2><p><img class="alignright wp-image-9883 " src="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/wetland.jpg" alt="" width="397" height="263" />The reservoir will ensure that local drinking water is safeguarded and it will secure more reliable water supplies across the South East for many years to come.</p><p>It will also play an important role in protecting the environment as we’ll share more water from our network with Southern Water as it reduces the amount it takes from sensitive chalk streams – the Rivers Test and Itchen, in Hampshire.</p><p>As well as protecting water supplies, it will provide a new leisure and community facility in the heart of Havant.</p><p>The reservoir will be surrounded by paths for walking, cycling and horse riding (about 5km around the water) as well as having play and picnic areas.</p><p>It could include a visitor centre as a focus point for the community and to host educational visits from schools and clubs.</p><p>A new wetland habitat is also included in the plans as well as bird watching facilities, with hides, for nature lovers to visit.</p><p>We’ve made two short films, one to tell you about <a href="https://youtu.be/i0lc5UX1eaY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how the reservoir would benefit nature</a>, and another focused on <a href="https://youtu.be/cSuoWrQKgF4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how the reservoir would provide a boost for people</a>.</p>

<h2>Our water supply and the role of the reservoir</h2>

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<h2>What it would look like and how it would work</h2>

<p style="background: #FCFCFC; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #424242;">The reservoir will fill the majority of the 160-hectare site and will be about 1.6km from east to west, 0.8km from north to south and up to 18 metres deep.</span></p><p style="background: #FCFCFC; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #424242;">The picture above is a mock-up of how it will look. You can also take a ‘helicopter’ tour to see what the reservoir could look like in the video to the right.</span></p><p style="background: #FCFCFC; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #424242;">It will have sloping embankments to three sides and include a wetland area to the north for birds and wildlife.</span></p><p style="background: #FCFCFC; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0cm 0cm 11.25pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #424242;">It will also be surrounded by paths and trails, woodland, hedgerows and wildflower embankments, with a visitor centre, car parking and picnic and play areas next to Havant Thicket woodland.</span></p><p>We’ve put together a short film to tell you more about <a href="https://youtu.be/kuVbS3hwsxA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how we will build the reservoir</a>.</p>

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<img src="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Masterplan-scaled.jpg" alt="The Reservoir"/>
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<h2>Quick Q & A</h2><p>We understand there are many questions you may have about the reservoir project – from how it works, how much water it might hold to enquiries about the wildlife or leisure facilities.</p><p>So, we’ve put together some Question and Answers with everything you need to know.</p><p>If you still have unanswered questions, please get in touch so we can answer your queries and make the information available to others as well. Email us at <a href="mailto:havantthicket@portsmouthwater.co.uk">havantthicket@portsmouthwater.co.uk</a>.</p>

What is the plan for a new reservoir?: We are planning to invest £120 million to build a new reservoir in Havant, Hampshire. It is being built in collaboration with Southern Water and will help secure more reliable and resilient water resources for our area and the wider South East.

Where would it be built?: <p>The reservoir is planned for a 160-hectare site next to Havant Thicket, which has been owned by Portsmouth Water since 1965. The site is in between Rowlands Castle, Leigh Park and Warren Park as shown below. It’s bordered by the Havant Thicket woodland to the north, which is owned by Forestry England, and Staunton Country Park to the south, which is owned by Hampshire County Council. The site’s currently made up of grazed grassland with small areas of trees and paths for people to walk and explore.</p>

<img class="aligncenter" src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ht1.png" alt="P5 How will it work - aerial map" title="P5 How will it work - aerial map" width="1024" height="683">

Why is it needed?: <p>The South East, as a whole, is under &lsquo;serious water stress&rsquo; and water companies are being asked to take less water from some of their sources &ndash; such as the chalk rivers in Hampshire &ndash; to keep them healthy and protect wildlife.&nbsp;</p>
<p>At the same time, water companies need to find more water to cater for the effects of climate change and a growing population.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This major change is going to particularly affect Southern Water, which needs to find new water resources for the customers it supplies drinking water to in Hampshire, to replace water taken currently from the River Test and the Itchen.</p>
<p>Portsmouth Water is in a better position as our supply area is only under &lsquo;moderate water stress&rsquo;. This is because there are underground springs which provide plentiful, clean water. In winter, much of this water is surplus to our requirements and flows out to sea so we could make better use of some of it by capturing it and storing it in the reservoir until it&rsquo;s needed.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This will allow us to share more water with Southern Water&rsquo;s customers in Hampshire from our network and increase the resilience of water supplies in the South East.</p>
<ul>
<li>We already have agreements to share up to 30 million litres of water a day with Southern Water (in West Sussex and Hampshire).</li>
<li>We can share a further nine million litres a day from 2024 from other sources (Hampshire)</li>
<li>We can provide an extra transfer from a mix of sources when the reservoir is built, up to 21 million litres a day (to Hampshire)</li>
<li>The total would be up to 60 million litres of water per day provided to Southern Water.</li>
</ul>
<p>Overall, building the reservoir would make the whole South East much more resilient to droughts, which are likely to happen more often in the future due to climate change.</p>

Why has the reservoir not gone ahead before?: <p>We first received planning permission for the reservoir back in 1964 and we carried out a lot of work towards a new planning application in 2008. </p>

<p>However, at the time there wasn’t enough demand for the water, either from our customers or across the South East.</p>

<p>Since then, Southern Water has agreed to reduce the amount of water it takes from the Rivers Test and Itchen in Hampshire, to protect the environment, so they need to find new sources. </p>

<p>So, we’re now working in partnership with Southern Water to go ahead with the reservoir to secure more reliable water supplies for the region as a whole. It will also help cater for a growth in the population and housing and more droughts as a result of climate change.</p>

How much water would it hold?: <p>The reservoir would be able to hold about 8.7 billion litres of water when full and supply an average of 21 million litres of water each day.  </p>

<p>That’s enough water to supply about 160,000 people during an average year.</p>


What would the reservoir offer to Portsmouth Water customers?: As well as being supplied with water from the reservoir, our customers would have the benefit of <a href="https://youtu.be/cSuoWrQKgF4" target="_blank">a new community leisure facility</a> on their doorstep. There would also be <a href="https://youtu.be/i0lc5UX1eaY" target="_blank">a host of environmental benefits locally</a>.

<p>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. </p>

<p>There would be a visitor centre with a café, toilets and space for community and education activities.</p>

<p>Our proposals for the site so far have been developed over many years with the local communities, young people and organisations such as Staunton Country Park and Forestry England.</p>

<p>We held a public consultation on our updated reservoir project proposals in May / June 2020 to gather people’s views.</p>
 
<p>The feedback we received has helped shape the planning applications we’ve submitted to Havant Borough Council and East Hampshire District Council.</p>

What would the reservoir offer to Southern Water’s customers?: <p>Building the reservoir would allow us to share water supplies with households in Hampshire (outside of our supply area) who receive their drinking water from Southern Water and where there is a severe shortage. </p>

<p>This means Southern Water’s customers would have reliable water supplies and less water would need to be taken from the Rivers Test and Rivers Itchen, which would be better for the environment. </p>

<p>Our customers in Hampshire who we supply water to are also customers of Southern Water for their wastewater services, so everyone in the area would benefit from the community and leisure facilities at the reservoir.</p>


What would the reservoir look like?: <p>The reservoir would be about one mile (1.6 km) long from east to west and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide from north to south. It would be up to 18 metres deep and have embankments on three sides.</p>

<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/New-aerial-view.jpg" />

What activities would be on the site?: <p>We’re planning to build a visitors’ centre on the site with a café, toilets and space for education and community activities.</p>

<p>There would also be footpaths for walking, cycling and horse riding, facilities for bird watching, such as bird hides, and picnic and play areas.</p>

<p>There would also be car parking and cycle racks.</p>

<p>We’re working in partnership with neighbouring Staunton Country Park and Forestry England, organisations we already work very closely with, to make sure the facilities and activities are a good fit with theirs.</p>

What about the environment and wildlife on the site?: <p>Our approach to designing the reservoir has <a href="https://youtu.be/i0lc5UX1eaY" target="_blank">the environment</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/cSuoWrQKgF4" target="_blank">the community</a> at its heart. Further details are set out below.</p>
 
<p>Our masterplan covers all the environmental and community factors we are taking into account. This means we’ve considered the environment as we’ve designed every part of the reservoir, the access road and pipeline, and we’ll continue to do so.</p>

<img src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/p7-Masterplan-scaled.jpg" alt="Master Plan" class="aligncenter" />
 
<p>We’re also working closely 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.</p>
 
<p>This approach, along with lots of feedback from local communities and environmental organisations, has helped us choose the facilities we’re proposing:</p>
 
<ul>
        <li>A wetland habitat to support threatened bird species and provide areas for endangered bat species to find food</li>
        <li>A visitor centre with a café and facilities for communities and schools</li>
        <li>A network of trails and paths for walking, cycling and horse riding, linking to others in the wider area</li>
        <li>New woodland, hedgerows and wildflower planting</li>
        <li>A landscaped parking area for vehicles and bicycles.</li>
</ul>
 
<p>The reservoir project will improve existing woodland and create a valuable new wetland, woodland and parkland. A grant scheme will also support wildlife across Hampshire and West Sussex.</p>
 
<p>Creating the reservoir will help protect the River Test and River Itchen in Hampshire. By using the reservoir to supply our own customers, we can share supplies from our other water sources with Southern Water. This means they will be able to reduce the amount of water that they take from these rare and sensitive chalk streams, which are home to many species.</p>
 
<p>We would need to remove 12.5 hectares of ancient woodland to build the reservoir and we have reduced this as much as possible by changing the design. We’re committed to replanting and improving around 200 hectares of woodland and pasture both on and around the site and further afield to leave an overall positive gain for the environment and communities.</p>

Where would the road access to the reservoir be?: <p>We’ll need to create a new public road for vehicles to get in and out of the site, both while the reservoir is being built and when it opens to the public.</p>

<p>Options for the access road were last looked at back in 2006-08. Since then the local area has changed so we think it’s important to look at all the options again. There is more development to the south west of the site and there is planning permission for a residential and mixed-use development just to the north of the site (Land East of Horndean).</p>

<p>These and other plans for development in the area mean there are new challenges and opportunities to consider so we’ve carried out another review of the all the old options and we’re continuing to review new ones.</p>

<p>Each option was assessed in terms of the impact on the environment, the engineering and construction and how it fits into the overall project.</p>

<p>Our review has shown there are now two potential access points to the reservoir – from the north and from the south.</p>


<img class="aligncenter" src="/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Access-route-options-map.jpg" />

<p><strong>The northern access option </strong></p>

<p>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. From the B2149, 200 metres of new track would be needed through woodland, then the road could join an existing Forestry England track in Havant Thicket to reach the reservoir. There were, and still are, concerns about the impact of more traffic on the B2149.</p>

<p><strong>A southern access option</strong></p>

<p>As we have studied the reservoir site in more detail over the last few months, we’ve been able to make changes to the design of the embankment, and this has created more space on the south west side of the site. This means there is enough space there now to build the embankment, an access road and a separate path for walkers, cyclists and others. So we could create an access point from the south, either instead of or as well as a northern one. This access point would 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’re considering what routes may be available for construction vehicles and visitors to reach this access point, while creating as little impact on local roads as possible.</p>

<p><strong>What happens next</strong></p>

<p>We shared the two access options during our public consultation in May / June 2020 and would like to thank everyone who got in touch to give us their views.</p>
 
<p>We’ve carefully considered all the feedback we got, as we continued to develop and assess these options. We’re also having on-going conversations with landowners on the routes and the highways authorities.</p>
 
<p>This has helped shape <a href="https://youtu.be/wVZz6lXWmX4" target="_blank">the finalised proposal for access to and from the reservoir</a> - we now want to create access roads from the north and the south, which will help minimise the overall impact of traffic and almost halve the amount of ancient woodland we’d need to remove along the northern route.</p>
 
<p>We would 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, to avoid the routes being used as a ‘rat run’, something people told us they were particularly concerned about.</p>
 
<p>You can read more in the <a style="color:#0095eb" href="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Havant-Thicket-Reservoir-Spring-Consultation-Report_2020_FINAL.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">‘You said, we did’ consultation report</a> we published, summarising what people told us during the consultation and how we’re responding to the points raised.</p>


Where would the new pipeline run?: <p>We need to lay a pipeline to fill the reservoir in the winter from the Bedhampton Springs and to draw it off to supply it to you when it's needed.</p>

<p>The same pipeline could also be used to steadily draw off water into the Hermitage Stream in the unlikely event we need to empty the reservoir.</p>

<p>During the 2008 consultation, we heard support for a pipeline route that followed the Riders Lane and Hermitage Stream corridors.</p>

<p>Since then we've had a look in more detail at how we would lay the pipe along this route and the disruption it might cause, as well as considering new ways of laying pipe.</p>

<p>We've looked at:</p>
<ul>
 	<li>The engineering and how difficult it would be to build</li>
 	<li>Disruption to the local community and traffic</li>
 	<li>The health, safety and wellbeing of the people building the pipeline and maintaining it in the future</li>
 	<li>Environmental effects and sustainability</li>
 	<li>Overall cost.</li>
</ul>

<p>As a result of this we've slightly updated the route - which you can see on the map below. We’ve also made <a href="https://youtu.be/wVZz6lXWmX4" target="_blank">a short film</a>, so you can find out more. </p>

<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9886" src="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Detailed-pipeline-route-874x1024.jpg" alt="" width="874" height="1024" />

<p>This route minimises the impact on communities, environmentally sensitive areas and areas of open space with trees and grass (which would be restored after the pipe is in place).</p>

<p>Most of the pipe would be installed using an ‘open cut’ method – where we dig down from the road or land, lay the pipe and then fill in the ground above it.</p>

<p>In some places we would tunnel underground using a ‘pipe-jacking’ method to push the pipe into place underground from one open-cut hole, for example, under the railway line.</p>

<p>Where we cross the Riders Lane and Hermitage streams we can also take the opportunity to improve these watercourses.</p>

<p>We'd plan the work so it could be carried out as quickly as possible and cause as little disruption to as few people as possible.</p>

<p>Our updated proposed route was shared during our public consultation in May / June 2020, with all the views we received helping to shape our pipeline planning application.</p>

<p><strong>What happens next</strong></p>

<p>We submitted a separate planning application for the pipeline to Havant Borough Council, with a larger application for all the other aspects of the scheme. The council’s Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission for both applications on 3 June 2021.</p>

<p>By having a dedicated application for the pipeline, this will enable it to be delivered more effectively and efficiently, as there will be technical planning conditions very specific to this which would be best handled in their own right. The proposed pipeline route, construction techniques and timeline all remain as consulted on from 11 May to 8 June 2020.</p>

<p>The pipeline application that has been approved is an ‘outline’ proposal and we’ll next submit a detailed planning application with more information on construction and traffic management later on.</p>

<p>For the detailed plans, we'll be looking at how we can:</p>
<ul>
 	<li>Limit the size of the areas we’re working in to reduce disruption to footpaths, residents and local roads</li>
 	<li>Propose alternating routes for construction traffic to relieve congestion</li>
 	<li>Route construction vehicles along main roads, such as the A3(M), to divert them away from residential areas for most of their journeys</li>
 	<li>Use other areas for parking for the construction teams away from the site</li>
 	<li>Store materials away from the working sites to reduce the number of construction vehicles travelling there</li>
 	<li>Stagger site activities to reduce traffic</li>
 	<li>Restrict when work can be carried out i.e. not overnight</li>
 	<li>Consider noise insulation measures.</li>
</ul>

<p>We’ll speak to you again about these detailed plans to hear what you think.</p>

How much would the reservoir cost and who will pay for it?: <p>It would cost about £120 million to plan, build and fill the reservoir with water.</p>

<p>Our proposal is that the scheme would be funded by payments from Southern Water to purchase the water it needs to supply its customers. Southern Water has considered a number of options to supply water to its customers and the reservoir is considered to be good value.</p>

<p>Only Southern Water customers who receive drinking water supplies from them would have the cost of the reservoir reflected in their bills. So, this does not include our customers who receive drinking water from us and wastewater services from Southern Water.</p>

<p>Portsmouth Water already has the lowest water bills in the country (£100 on average) and from 2020 to 2025, we’re planning to reduce this even further.</p>


What is new and innovative about this reservoir?: <p>This would be the first new reservoir to be built in the South East since the 1970s. </p>

<p>The Government is currently calling for water companies to invest in more projects to help supply water, such as reservoirs and regional transfers. Projects like this are needed to secure reliable water supplies for the future, alongside reducing the amount of water lost through leaks and encouraging people to use less water. </p>

<p>This will help the country tackle extremes in weather such as droughts, which are likely to happen more often and be more serious as our climate changes. It will also help us provide water supplies to more customers in the future as the population grows in the UK. </p>

<p>The reservoir was selected as part of work carried out by the Water Resources South East (WRSE) group, which includes six water companies in the region and their regulators. It is one of eight ‘big ticket’ schemes which could deliver more than 15 million litres of water each day. </p>

<p>The reservoir is likely to be the first regional scheme of this type to be developed in collaboration between two companies (Portsmouth Water and Southern Water) for the greater good of the region.</p>


When would it happen?: <p>On 9 June 2021, East Hampshire District Council’s Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission for Havant Thicket Reservoir.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The next step is for legal commitments to be finalised with the local authorities, before full planning permission is granted, potentially this summer. The reservoir is due to be completed and operational by 2029.</p>
<p>Further details can be found on the links below:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://havant.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=530&MId=11382&fbclid=IwAR0n4VS79Uee8oWjajHTQNoijE8eDqjrD0LlXL4YsSQSh06i3CnL48DZV7c" target="_blank">Havant Borough Council Planning Committee</a></li>
<li><a href="https://easthants.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=158&MId=3817&Ver=4" target="_blank">East Hampshire District Council Planning Committee</a></li>
</ul>

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

<p>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.</p>
<p>We’ll be submitting detailed planning applications for the above elements later on.</p>


<h3>Projected timeline</h3>

<p><strong>2021-2022:</strong></p>

<ul>
    <li>Ongoing creation of new woodlands and habitats for wildlife migration</li>
    <li>Prepare planning applications for the detailed design of the reservoir operational and visitor facilities,
        access and recreational routes and the pipeline route</li>
    <li>Build the access roads </li>
    <li>Start work to prepare the site</li>
    <li>Divert paths</li>
    <li>Community engagement.</li>
</ul>     

<p><strong>2023 – 2026:</strong></p>

<ul>
    <li>Dig out the clay and move within the site to shape the reservoir bowl</li>
    <li>Build the embankment</li>
    <li>Lay the pipeline which will transfer the water from the springs to the reservoir</li>
    <li>Community engagement. </li>
</ul>

<p><strong>2027 – 2029:</strong></p>

<ul>
    <li>Create a new network of paths</li>
    <li>Pump water from the springs to fill the reservoir (during winter)</li>
    <li>Build the visitors’ centre and other facilities</li>
    <li>Open to the public.</li>
</ul>


How are you involving residents and communities and other organisations?: <p>Since 2019, we&rsquo;ve carried out a range of activities to raise awareness about the reservoir and encourage people to find out more and tell us their views. This has included:&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Sending out a letter from Portsmouth Water CEO Bob Taylor in October 2019 to 27,000 local homes and businesses to tell them about the reservoir and direct people to where they can find out more</li>
<li>Carrying out customer research to gauge people&rsquo;s attitudes on the reservoir, with the vast majority of those surveyed supportive of the project</li>
<li>Setting up a dedicated Facebook page and these web pages for Havant Thicket Reservoir, making it easier for people to learn more and get in touch to ask questions</li>
<li>Holding a series of public exhibition events in November, with face to face discussions with residents</li>
<li>Liaising closely with a wide range of community representatives to get their input into our proposals &ndash; e.g. we&rsquo;ve been talking to local MPs, councillors, council officers, environmental and community groups and organisations like Forestry England and Staunton Country Park</li>
<li>Holding a public consultation on the reservoir project proposals from 11 May to 8 June 2020.</li>
</ul>

Do people support the reservoir?: <p>We have carried out detailed research with people living locally to the proposed reservoir site.</p>
<p>The vast majority, 70%, of those surveyed said they are completely supportive of the reservoir</p>
<p>Almost half of people understand that pressure on water resources is the main &lsquo;driver&rsquo; for reservoir</p>
<p>All the planned leisure activities at the reservoir site are supported to some extent, with people&rsquo;s top three priorities being a picnic and play area, dog walking and walking / running facilities</p>

How can I find out more?: <p>There’s lots more information on this website.</p>
 
<p>If you’d like to ask questions or share your views you can get in touch in a variety of ways – <a href="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/new-reservoir/contact/">please click here for more</a>.</p>


What else are we doing to secure water?: <p>It’s important we make the best use of the supplies we already have, so we can leave as much water as possible in rivers and the ground to support our environment and wildlife.</p>

<p>Filling the reservoir with water which would normally flow out to sea in winter is one way to do this but we’re also planning to become more efficient with our existing supplies.</p>
<h3>Leakage</h3>
<p>It’s really important to you and to us that we lose as little water as possible through leaks.</p>

<p>We’ve set ourselves challenging targets to reduce leakage by 20% by 2025 and by 50% by 2050.</p> 

<p>We’re trialling new technology to help us find and fix leaks more quickly and in 2018 alone we invested £2.1 million on hi-tech equipment and extra staff. Since September 2018 we’ve already reduced leakage by six million litres per day.
</p>

<h3>Saving Water</h3>

<p>We’re also helping our customers to use water more efficiently in their homes. Currently our customers have high personal water use (148 litres per person per day), but we want to reduce this to <strong>135 litres</strong> by 2025 and 100 litres by 2050. We’ll do this by sharing advice and water-saving products. <a href="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/environment/saving-water/">Find out more here</a>.</p>

<h3>Metering</h3>
<p>We’ll also be encouraging more customers to have water meters installed – particularly where this will save money on their water, wastewater and energy bills. We’re planning to install 3,000 ‘SMART’ meters by 2025 to give customers much more information on their water use and opportunities to save. <a href="https://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/customer-services/domestic-water-meters/">Find out more about switching to a meter here</a>.</p>


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Planning and Construction
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