Abberton approval

12/11/2008

Essex & Suffolk Water’s plan to increase the capacity of Abberton Reservoir has reached the next stage with recommendation for approval of the planning application by Colchester Borough Council Planning Committee.

Essex & Suffolk Water wants to enlarge its existing reservoir at Abberton by 58 per cent as part of the ‘Abberton Scheme’ to ensure that Essex has a secure water supply for future generations. A planning application for the enlargement of Abberton Reservoir, a new pumping station and pipeline between Wormingford and Abberton Reservoir was made to Colchester Borough Council in December 2007. The application was unanimously recommended for approval by a special meeting of the Planning Committee on 11th November.                

Following the recommendation of the Planning Committee a legal agreement now needs to be concluded before planning permission can be formally granted. This will include Essex & Suffolk Water providing further community benefits.

The plan to enlarge Abberton Reservoir is the culmination of fifteen years of investigation and consultation, during which over 250 locations for a new reservoir were considered.

As well as providing a vital new water resource, the Scheme has been designed to enhance the reservoir for both people and wildlife.

Abberton Reservoir is one of the most important sites in Britain for water birds. Habitat at the reservoir will be protected during construction and enhanced in the longer term. The enhancement proposals have been supported by Natural England and Essex Wildlife Trust and incorporate areas of shallow water as habitat for feeding waterfowl, as well as other measures which will increase the reservoir’s value for waterfowl and other wildlife.

The existing Essex Wildlife Trust visitor centre, adjacent to Abberton Reservoir, will be relocated to larger and improved premises. The plans would also increase the network of public access routes in the proximity of the reservoir from around 4km to 14km. 

Essex is the driest county in the UK receiving on average less than 600 mm of rain a year, which is two thirds of the average for England and Wales. Demand in the county is predicted to rise by around 6% over the next 25 years, almost entirely due to an increase in population in the area. The predicted growth in population, combined with the challenge of a typically dry climate means there is a need for a long term and sustainable increase in water resources for the Essex area.

The Scheme is part of Essex & Suffolk Water’s overall strategy to balance supply and demand for water.  The company already has one of the lowest leakage levels in the country and is accelerating metering actions. It is also increasing its promotion of water efficiency through a number of projects, many of which have won national awards.

Construction work is due to start at the reservoir in 2010 and it is expected that the enlarged reservoir will be fully operational by 2014
 
John Devall, Essex & Suffolk Water Operations Director said: “We are delighted with the recommendation of the Colchester Borough Council Planning Committee that this vital project should be granted planning permission. The enlargement of Abberton Reservoir is essential to ensure that Essex has a secure water supply for the 21st century and beyond.  The project is the most sustainable option to secure water supplies from a social, environmental, engineering and economic perspective.
 
This is an important step towards securing future water supplies in Essex. We will continue to work with local communities and organisations to ensure that it the project runs as smoothly as possible and provides lasting benefits for the local area.”

For further information on the Scheme or to raise a query with the Abberton project team log onto Essex & Suffolk Water website www.eswater.co.uk

Abberton factfile
• Current top water level at Abberton Reservoir– 17.8 metres
• New top water level at Abberton Reservoir – 21 metres
• Current volume of reservoir – around 26,000 million litres
• New volume of reservoir – 41,000 million litres
• Current surface area of reservoir – 4,714,869 square metres
• New surface area of reservoir – 6,612,432 square metres
• Planning permission was granted earlier this year by St Edmundsbury, East Cambridgeshire and Braintree local councils for a pipeline between Kirtling Green and Wixoe, which also forms part of the Abberton Scheme.

Information leaflets are available on the scheme. For further information please contact Sarah Pinkerton on 01245 212862.