UK Approves First New Reservoirs in 30 Years to Address Water Shortages

The UK government has announced plans to build new reservoirs for the first time in over 30 years to address looming water shortages exacerbated by population growth, climate change, and aging infrastructure. Environment Secretary Steve Reed has taken control of the planning process, designating two reservoir projects in East Anglia and Lincolnshire as 'nationally significant,' which shifts approval authority from local councils to the Secretary of State to accelerate development. These reservoirs, planned to be operational by 2036 and 2040 respectively, are expected to supply water to over 750,000 homes in England's most water-stressed regions and unlock the construction of thousands of new homes. The government also intends to legislate to make the 'nationally significant' designation automatic for such critical infrastructure projects, aiming to streamline planning and delivery further. Water minister Emma Hardy emphasized the necessity of overcoming bureaucratic hurdles to ensure the country avoids water rationing similar to Mediterranean countries facing droughts. The Environment Agency has warned of an increased drought risk and historic low water levels, underscoring the urgency of these infrastructure improvements for national water resilience.