The government has announced a landmark step in safeguarding national water resources by fast-tracking the development of the country’s first major reservoirs in over three decades. These reservoirs are vital to future-proofing water infrastructure, supporting sustainable development, and unlocking housebuilding projects currently constrained by limited water availability.
As part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, two new reservoirs—one in East Anglia and another in Lincolnshire—have been designated as projects of ‘national significance’. This designation allows the Environment Secretary to directly oversee the planning process, bypassing local bottlenecks and accelerating delivery timelines. These projects are among the first of nine proposed reservoirs expected to secure water supplies for 1.5 million homes by the end of the current Parliament.
A watershed moment for UK water infrastructure?
No new reservoirs have been built in the UK since 1992. Yet with climate change, rapid population growth, and ageing infrastructure putting increasing pressure on water availability, the risk of running short of clean drinking water is mounting. The Environment Agency has already issued warnings following the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years.
Bathroom manufacturers are all too familiar with the central role water plays in both sustainable housing and daily domestic life. This announcement marks a welcome step towards securing a reliable, resilient water supply—a priority not only for homebuilders and utilities but also for manufacturers of water-dependent products and services.
Supporting housing growth through resilient water supply
Thousands of homes, particularly in regions like Cambridge and North Sussex, are currently stalled due to concerns over water scarcity. The new reservoirs aim to address this challenge head-on:
- Lincolnshire Reservoir (by Anglian Water): Expected to be operational by 2040, this facility will provide up to 166 million litres of water per day—enough for around 500,000 homes.
- Fens Reservoir (a joint project by Anglian Water and Cambridge Water): Scheduled for completion by 2036, it will supply 87 million litres daily to 250,000 homes in one of the UK’s driest regions.
Both projects are entering a public consultation phase, inviting input from communities and stakeholders.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said:
“Today we are backing the builders not the blockers, intervening in the national interest and slashing red tape to make the planning process faster to unblock nine new reservoirs.
“This Government will secure our water supply for future generations and unlock the building of thousands of homes as part of the Plan for Change.”
Looking ahead, the government plans to legislate for automatic ‘national significance’ status for essential water infrastructure projects. This could further streamline planning and delivery, reinforcing efforts to address drought risk and unlock economic growth.
In total, nine new reservoirs are planned across key regions—including Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Kent, East Sussex, and the West Midlands—with the potential to add an additional 670 million litres of daily water capacity.