Thames Water redraws mega-reservoir plan amid local opposition
Summary
Thames Water has changed its plan for a large reservoir in Oxfordshire to address local opposition and environmental concerns. The project now costs much more and is delayed, with construction expected to start in 2032 and water supply by 2040, aiming to serve 15 million people.Key Facts
- The planned White Horse reservoir will hold 150 billion litres of water and cover nearly 6.7 square kilometers, similar in size to Gatwick Airport.
- The project cost increased from £2.2 billion to between £5.5 billion and £7.5 billion due to expanded site area and additional construction work.
- Thames Water began a new public consultation on updated plans after local opposition and environmental concerns.
- If approved, construction would start in 2032 with water available by 2040 for 15 million people in the south-east of England.
- The reservoir addresses water shortages caused by population growth and climate change, including recent heatwaves.
- Critics say Thames Water underestimated costs and overstated the reservoir’s benefits, pointing to a previous smaller, cheaper plan from 2006.
- Local councils have rejected the plans over flood risks linked to river diversions on the site.
- Customers of Thames Water and other local water companies will pay for the reservoir through their water bills over the next 100 years.
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