Portsmouth secures final part of Havant Thicket planning permission

East Hampshire District Council has joined its neighbour Havant Borough Council in agreeing to grant planning permission to Portsmouth Water to build the new Havant Thicket reservoir.

The next step is for legal commitments to be finalised with the local authorities, before full planning permission is granted, potentially this summer.

Portsmouth Water’s chief executive, BobTaylor, said: “I would like to thank the councils for their support on this vitally important scheme and we’re also very grateful to local people and community representatives for their strong backing and valuable feedback over a number of years, which have helped shape the plans and our approach in many areas.”

He added: “We remain committed to working with communities to make the very most of the reservoir’s potential to improve the lives of local people in particular – including opportunities for accessible leisure, education, sharing skills, creating jobs and supporting the local economy.”

The reservoir is due to be completed and operational by 2029.