Thames Water Revises Oxfordshire Mega-Reservoir Plan After Opposition

Thames Water has revised the design of a planned mega-reservoir in Oxfordshire, opening a targeted public consultation as the financially troubled utility seeks to secure regulatory backing for a project it says is critical to the region's water supply.

The White Horse reservoir, located near Abingdon, is designed to hold 150 billion litres of water and would cover a surface area of 6.7 square kilometres — roughly equivalent to the footprint of Gatwick airport. The scale of the project has drawn significant local opposition, prompting Thames Water to redraw elements of the original blueprint.

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Thames Water has framed the project in urgent terms, warning of "catastrophic consequences" if the reservoir is not built, signaling that demand pressures on the existing water network are severe enough to require a major infrastructure intervention in the years ahead.

The consultation marks a pivotal step in the approval process for what would be one of the largest water infrastructure projects undertaken in England in decades. Regulators will weigh the utility's amended proposals against environmental concerns and community objections before determining whether construction can proceed.

The project comes as Thames Water navigates broader financial difficulties, adding pressure to demonstrate to both regulators and the public that large-scale capital investment remains viable and necessary under its stewardship. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.