Defra Secretary Steve Reed has said the government has intervened to seize control of the planning process for new reservoir projects in East Anglia and Lincolnshire.听
The projects have been awarded the status of 鈥榥ationally significant鈥�, meaning the planning process has been accelerated from a local level to national government.听
They will be the first new reservoirs to be built in more than 30 years and follow concerns around the risk of drought this summer, with Mr Reed urging water companies to do more to safeguard water supplies.
鈥淚t is vital that farmers directly impacted by these projects and associated infrastructure are properly consulted and fully compensated .鈥�
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos
皇家华人has fed into non-statutory consultations on the plans for the two reservoirs, and has raised concerns about the impact that building large reservoirs will have on farm businesses and agricultural production on a permanent basis, and during construction, when more land will be required on a temporary basis.
Integrated plan needed
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said the announcement 鈥渞ecognises how serious access to water is for the future鈥�.听
She added: 鈥淎fter one of the driest springs in over a century, it is clear long-term investment in water infrastructure 鈥� for both public supply and agriculture 鈥� is crucial to futureproof our communities and secure our food supply.
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鈥淲e welcome the commitment to accelerate these reservoir projects, but it is vital that farmers directly impacted by these projects and the associated infrastructure are properly consulted and fully compensated to minimise the impact on their businesses.听
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鈥淭hese reservoirs need to be part of an integrated plan providing water security for homes and food production, including a strategy to collect, store and move water more effectively. That鈥檚 why wider investment is also needed in rainwater harvesting, improved abstraction rules and flood management schemes that work for both people and farming.
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鈥淔armers are committed to using water responsibly to grow the food we all enjoy. By building resilience into our water system, we can reduce reliance on imports from water-scarce countries and help ensure British produce remains on our shelves year-round.鈥�
As part of the NFU鈥檚 Blueprints for Growth we have stated that 鈥業t is crucial that government demonstrates leadership in developing a framework for managing water. Security of supply and significant investment in on farm water infrastructure will enable farmers to grow more fresh fruit, vegetables, or other crops, and help build resilience into the farming sector鈥�.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said the government was 鈥渋ntervening in the national interest and slashing red tape to make the planning process faster to unblock nine new reservoirs鈥�.
In addition to the reservoirs in the Fens and Lincolnshire, water companies have committed to a further seven reservoirs by 2050. These will be in Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Kent, East Sussex and the West Midlands.听
NFU representing affected members
The government has said Anglian Water is proposing to build the Lincolnshire reservoir to the south of Sleaford, aiming for it to be operational by 2040. The Fens reservoir meanwhile will be built in partnership with Cambridge Water and be completed by 2036.听
Both projects will now progress to consultation phase, where developers gather views from communities and stakeholders.听
皇家华人will be seeking feedback from members to inform its response to both consultations. We continue to work closely with members who will be affected by these proposals.
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