The chancellor has this week outlined plans to improve regional infrastructure, backing proposals for nine new reservoirs - among them our South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO) project in Oxfordshire.

We welcome the government's recognition that water infrastructure will provide a foundation for growth. Indeed, our reservoir will be vital to unlocking economic opportunities across the South East, providing water security to 15 million people, including Thames Water, Affinity Water and Southern Water customers.

The right water infrastructure will be pivotal to supporting future demand, including building the new homes, hospitals and transport links that our country so desperately needs.

Meeting future challenges

The South East faces unprecedented pressure on its water resources and is already one of the most densely populated parts of the country and the number of people living and working here is forecast to grow significantly.

We currently supply 2.6 billion litres of water daily to around 10 million customers and we expect to serve nearly 13 million people by 2050. Over the past ten years, the population we serve has already been growing at an average rate of more than 100,000 people a year. This means that we now supply water to 1 million more people than a decade ago.

Without intervention, we predict a daily water shortfall of 1 billion litres in our supply area, rising to 2.5 billion litres across the South East.

While we're making significant progress in reducing leakage - achieving our lowest ever levels with a 7% reduction last year – and have committed to halving it by 2050, infrastructure investment remains crucial. As Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds notes, "we simply cannot afford to say we don't build reservoirs anymore" especially given the UK hasn't constructed a new reservoir in over 30 years.

Climate resilience

Climate change is intensifying pressure on our water supply through both frequent droughts and extreme weather swings.

The Met Office reported that 2024 was England’s eighth wettest year on record with unprecedented storm activity. These intense rainfall events pose a unique challenge, often overwhelming our systems before we can capture the water. Combined with record-breaking global temperatures, this creates a significant water security challenge.

To address these weather patterns, we need infrastructure that can effectively capture and store water during abundant periods for use during dry spells.

Engaging with communities and creating a lasting legacy

While the reservoir's primary purpose is water storage, we've put community needs at the heart of its design. We're committed to mitigating local and environmental impacts, and our continued community engagement will be key to achieving this, with further consultation planned this year ahead of our 2026 development consent application. This collaborative approach ensures the project delivers lasting value for local communities.

The reservoir will offer diverse recreational opportunities - from walking to sailing and fishing - with our research showing 73% of people in the South East would visit. It will also become a thriving natural sanctuary, featuring wildlife ponds, wetland mosaics, woodlands and rich grasslands.

The project will boost the local economy, with early analysis indicating it could create 930 construction, design, and management roles, potentially rising to 1,340 at peak construction in 2031/32.

As an infrastructure company with a proven track record for building major projects, we're confident we can deliver this reservoir. We need to act now to secure water supply for our children and their children.

Leonie Dubois, Head of Engagement, Land and Consents at Thames Water