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Havant Thicket Reservoir: 5-Year Delay, Costs Double
23 Sep
Summary
- First new reservoir in England in over 30 years faces a five-year opening delay.
- Project costs have more than doubled, now exceeding £1 billion due to inflation.
- Increased costs will be passed on to customers of Southern Water, raising bill concerns.
The opening of England's first new reservoir in more than 30 years has been postponed by five years, with completion now expected in 2034. The Havant Thicket reservoir project in Hampshire, which commenced construction last year, has seen its estimated cost escalate dramatically. Originally projected at £339 million in 2022, the cost has surged to at least £1 billion when adjusted for inflation.
Ofwat, the water regulator, is conducting a public consultation on the proposed budget increase, with a final decision due in December. The delay exacerbates existing concerns about water supply security, especially following a record-breaking hot summer that led to widespread hosepipe bans. England faces a potential daily water shortfall of nearly 5 billion litres if infrastructure upgrades are not implemented.
This project, developed by Portsmouth Water for Southern Water, is partly a response to regulatory requirements to reduce water extraction from local chalk streams. The spiraling costs, partly due to unexpected geological challenges and an expanded scope including a controversial recycling project, will be passed directly to Southern Water's customers. This adds to already significant bill increases planned for Southern Water customers, raising fears of a substantial financial burden.
