• Thames Water is encouraging customers, communities and stakeholders across the South East to have their say on designs for a proposed new reservoir near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, which will secure future water supply for 15 million people.

• Since the public consultation launched on 5 June 2024, the company has already received over 900 consultation responses. More than 1,200 people also attended a programme of local community information events.

• There is one more week for the public to share their views before the consultation closes on Wednesday 28 August 2024.

The UK’s largest water company wants to gather feedback from communities across the South East on its proposals for a new reservoir in Oxfordshire. The reservoir is a nationally significant infrastructure project that is vital to securing the South East’s future water supply, in response to a growing population, climate change and the need to protect the environment.

The proposed reservoir, known as SESRO (South East Strategic Reservoir Option), has been developed in partnership with Southern Water and Affinity Water and would secure water supplies for around 15 million people across the region, including customers at all three companies.

Thames Water unveiled a new interim masterplan and design concepts earlier this summer and hosted seven community engagement events throughout June and July to showcase how the reservoir could look.

Visitors were able to view scale-models and experience what the reservoir could look like using VR headsets. Experts were also on hand to explain how the reservoir might be built and the community benefits it could offer, including an education centre, visitor centre and café.

Leonie Dubois, Head of Engagement, Land and Consents, said:

"Community feedback is at the heart of our plans for the proposed new reservoir in Oxfordshire. While the primary purpose of the reservoir is to secure future water supply, we want to create a much-loved community resource, where people can walk, cycle and sail. “That’s why we want to hear from local communities. Their views will help to shape our future designs and that feedback is really important to us.” fits it could offer, including an education centre, visitor centre and café."

The public are invited to comment on the interim masterplan for SESRO, which is separated into seven different zones. This includes information about the opportunities for leisure, which could include nature trails, a visitor centre, cafés, a water sports centre, recreational lakes and an education centre.

The new large-scale 150Mm³ reservoir will also help protect and improve the environment by reducing abstractions from some of its most sensitive rivers and groundwater sources, including Hampshire’s rare and sensitive chalk streams, the Test and Itchen. There will also be opportunities to create new habitats and increase biodiversity.

The grass laid reservoir embankments would be designed to reflect the character of the existing landscape. The design encompasses gradual slopes with landscape fill allowing for the opportunity to plant trees.

Thames Water’s design approach, including the planting of trees on the reservoir embankments, has been reviewed by our independent reservoir engineering panel to ensure this would be in accordance with the Reservoir Act requirements.

The 12-week public consultation closes next week and those wishing to respond are encouraged to submit their responses by Wednesday 28 August 2024.