Our latest survey work

Surveys are vital for gathering important information about the area, informing our design, and helping to manage potential impacts of our work. As we continue developing our proposals, we’re starting a range of new surveys and ground investigations across the main reservoir site and the areas identified for associated water infrastructure.

The surveys will run from May through to December 2026 and and are fundamental to helping us learn about the ground conditions and ecology of the land where we’ll potentially be undertaking construction in the future. We would like to reassure you that these survey works are not a sign of construction work starting on the project.

Some of the surveys we are carrying out are non-intrusive. These involve small teams moving steadily across fields with specialist equipment to better understand environmental and historical factors that might influence our designs for the reservoir and its construction.

We will also be carrying out more visible works such as boreholes or archeological trial pits. Larger works can take a few weeks to complete depending on weather conditions. Those living locally may see equipment such as excavators and drilling rigs, and there may be some daytime noise during excavation.

Once each survey is complete, all excavated areas will be backfilled and the land will be reinstated to its previous condition.

We are already in touch with the affected landowners to explain what we will need and to arrange access to their land; and have been working with the relevant local authorities across our project area to agree our approach to the survey work.

More information about the types of surveys we undertake and what information they provide us with can be found here.