What the reservoir could deliver

Our existing reservoirs not only provide vital water resources for the region, they also provide a range of other benefits. They:

• support a whole host of leisure activities and facilities, such as water sports, cycling and walking
• offer the chance for people to enjoy nature, and make sure wildlife can thrive
• welcome two million people every year

Our vision for this project goes beyond just building a reservoir. We want to create a place where water, people and nature come together. That means creating space for wildlife, such as wetlands, alongside enabling new recreational and educational activities and natural places for people to explore. It also means creating new jobs and providing opportunities for local businesses and tourism.

Delivering our shared ambition

We know that regulators and our local and regional partners also want to make sure the reservoir delivers across a whole range of areas. And our customers and communities have been clear in their feedback so far that the reservoir should deliver local benefits, while being developed in a way that is sensitive to people and place.

Turning ambition into reality is an important responsibility, and we understand the impact and uncertainty that this long-term project creates for local landowners and communities.

That’s why we have set out how we’re going to deliver our shared ambition - the shared ambition of Anglian Water and Cambridge Water, local and central government, stakeholders and customers, to create a lasting, positive legacy for our region.

You can read more about how we plan to achieve this shared ambition here.

Developing a design

Anglian Water and Cambridge Water have released an artist’s impression of the proposals for a new reservoir in the Fens.

The design has evolved using the valuable feedback from the first phase of consultation and is characterised by its bold ‘ammonite’ shape.

The illustrative image shows how the proposed reservoir could become an exciting new visitor destination, creating jobs, and wider economic, environmental, leisure and health benefits for the local community.

It also illustrates our aim to create a place that brings people, nature and water together.

The reservoir embankments feature public pathways and exciting landscape forms, with clear potential to host water sports. The design also shows how the reservoir could link to nearby towns and villages and includes wetland areas for wildlife.

We are continuing to engage with landowners, homeowners, local communities and other stakeholders as we develop our proposals.