A colossal reservoir, aiming to be the size of Gatwick Airport, is now officially on the hunt for builders, but here's the kicker: planning permission hasn't even been secured yet!
Thames Water has officially kicked off the search for construction companies to bring the newly christened White Horse Reservoir to life in Oxfordshire. This massive undertaking, with an estimated price tag of £7.5 billion, is designed to secure water for a staggering 15 million people across the regions served by Thames Water, Affinity Water, and Southern Water. The cost, as you might expect, will be shouldered by the customers of these water companies through their regular bills.
Companies interested in taking on this monumental project have until April 24th to express their interest. Following this, a more detailed tender process will unfold later this year.
A 'significant milestone' for water security?
According to Chris Taylor-Dawson from the water regulator Ofwat, this announcement marks a crucial step forward. He emphasized that this 'important project' is absolutely 'critical for securing our future water supply in the South East of England.' The strategy here is to leverage a 'competitive third-party delivery approach' which, in theory, should 'boost resilience in the sector and deliver better value for customers.'
Once completed around 2040, this reservoir is set to hold an impressive 150 billion litres (that's 150 million cubic meters!) of water, and will sprawl across 7 square kilometers (or about 2.7 square miles) of Oxfordshire's countryside.
A boost for jobs and the economy?
Chris Weston, the chief executive of Thames Water, described the scheme as 'one of the most significant investments' in water infrastructure in recent memory. He highlighted the immense job creation potential, stating that 'careers will be made and built through the reservoir's construction with thousands of jobs created, supporting families and communities across the South East.' Thames Water estimates that the construction phase alone will generate approximately 1,800 jobs, acting as a catalyst for 'economic growth and opportunities to businesses of all sizes.'
Keeping the taps flowing and rivers healthy
Ben Ring, major projects director at Southern Water, echoed the sentiment, calling the project an 'essential part' of their commitment to 'keep taps and rivers flowing' throughout Hampshire. A significant benefit, he noted, is that the reservoir will allow water to be retained in the county's 'rare and sensitive chalk stream rivers' during times of drought, helping to preserve these vital ecosystems.
Interestingly, this project has already been classified as nationally significant. This means that the final decision on planning permission will rest with the government, rather than the local planning authority.
A new name for a new era
Alongside the tender launch, Thames Water also revealed the official new name for the site: White Horse Reservoir. Leonie Dubois from Thames Water explained the reasoning behind the name, aiming to foster a 'connection to the local area' and ensure it's a place for the community.
But here's where it gets controversial...
This announcement arrives just as a group of Liberal Democrat MPs have penned a letter to the government, expressing 'serious concerns' about the 'spiralling costs' and the 'suitability' of the proposals. A public consultation on Thames Water's plans recently concluded, after an extension was granted for an extra week.
What do you think? Is this massive reservoir a necessary investment for our future water security, or are the spiraling costs and the rush to build without full planning permission a cause for concern? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
