The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, has today taken control of the planning process for two new reservoirs, in an intervention to speed up delivery.
Anglian Water’s proposed reservoirs in East Anglia and Lincolnshire have been designated as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), meaning the planning process can be approved by the Secretary of State, rather than local authorities.
The Lincolnshire Reservoir, south of Sleaford, is expected to be operational by 2040, and is projected to supply up to 166M litres of water daily.
The Fens Reservoir, located in Cambridgeshire, is a joint venture between Anglian Water and Cambridge Water. It should be complete by 2036, and will provide approximately 87M litres daily.
To sustain water supplies into the future, the government will also legislate to radically streamline the planning process – meaning the ‘nationally significant’ designation is automatic for projects like these which are fundamental to national water resilience.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said:
