"Significant concerns” have been raised over plans for the
Havant Thicket Reservoir which could potentially stop all
supply of water from the reservoir to Portsmouth
Water customers.
Portsmouth Water said that the plans submitted by Southern
Water would
“remove [their] protected right at that reservoir” and “may
provide for Southern Water assuming operational control”
without the need for agreement, or any provision for
compensation for Portsmouth Water and their customers.
It states that if the plans were enacted, Southern would
take over Portsmouth Water’s land “by compulsion”.
But the two companies have told The News that it is working
together to find a solution.
The fears were expressed as part of a public consultation
with Southern Water also seeking the freehold of 11
different plots of land beyond the reservoir that Portsmouth
Water owns or holds apparatus on. It forms part of the plans
where Southern Water is seeking permission from the Planning
Inspectorate to be able to “top up” the reservoir with
recycled water.
Portsmouth Water is in the midst of constructing the Havant
Thicket Reservoir, the first new reservoir to be built in
the United Kingdom for more than 30 years, on land it owns
near Leigh Park.
In 2018, Southern Water asked for the reservoir to supply it
with the bulk amount of water, to which Portsmouth Water
“willingly agreed”.
Plans for this iteration of the project were approved by
Havant Borough Council in June 2021, with planning
applications for some parts of the land also being submitted
to East Hampshire District Council.
In May this year, Southern Water submitted a Development
Consent Order containing its plans for use of the reservoir,
and during the consultation stage of the planning
application,
Portsmouth Water submitted a representation document of
“objections” to the plans.
The development consent order proposed limits to the amount
of water which Portsmouth Water could take from the
reservoir to supply its customers.
The plans ensure that Southern Water will be guaranteed a
minimum of 115 million litres of water a day from the
reservoir, an increase from the previously proposed figure
of 90 million litres.
However, Portsmouth Water will only be able to access a
maximum of 25 million litres a day, and are not guaranteed
any amount of water.
In its representations, Portsmouth Water said it saw this as
Southern being “given a guaranteed floor and no ceiling,”
while they were stuck with “a permanent ceiling, and no
floor,” despite them owning and constructing the reservoir.
Under the proposed plans, Southern Water will also be
allowed to transfer all operational rights to the reservoir,
and the rights to construct on the Havant Thicket Reservoir
land, to another person or organisation. They would be able
to do this without any consent or consultation needed from
Portsmouth Water.
The News 10th September 2026
