South Hampshire - Water Transfer & Water Recycling Project DCO

NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF AN APPLICATION FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER

BY THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE (ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE) UNDER

SECTION 56 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008

Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project

Regulations 8 and 9 of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009

Regulation 16 of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017

Water for Life®

from Southern Water.

Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has accepted an application by Southern Water Services Limited ("the Applicant") (company number 2366670 and registered office at Southern House, Yeoman Road, Worthing BN13 3NX) for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project Development Consent Order ("the DCO") to be made under the Planning Act 2008 ("the Act"). The application (reference number: WA010002) was submitted by the Applicant to the Secretary of State via the Planning Inspectorate on 28 May 2026 and accepted for examination on 25 June 2026.

Summary of the Application

The Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project ("the Project") does not fall within the categories in sections 14 to 30 of the Act and therefore is not a nationally significant infrastructure project ("NSIP") in the prescribed terms of the Act. However, it is to be treated as development for which a development consent order is required under the Act, following a direction given by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under section 35(1) of the Act on 31 May 2022 and subsequently varied on 19 November 2024.

The Project will comprise the construction, operation and maintenance of the following components:

• Water Recycling Plant ("WRP") and associated pumping stations.

• Pipelines between Budds Farm Wastewater Treatment Works and the WRP site.

• Pipelines between the WRP site and Bedhampton Springs, connecting to pipelines being delivered by Portsmouth Water between Bedhampton Springs and Havant Thicket Reservoir.

• Pipeline between the WRP site and Otterbourne Water Supply Works.

• Above Ground Plant comprising Intermediate Pumping Stations and Break Pressure Tanks located along the Pipeline between the WRP site and Otterbourne Water Supply Works.

The Project would also comprise the use of the following infrastructure:

• Havant Thicket Reservoir (which has been consented separately and is currently under construction by Portsmouth Water) for the storage of recycled water.

• The existing Eastney Long Sea Outfall, Eastney Pumping Station and associated Eastney Transfer Tunnel, for the release of reject water from the WRP site.

• Pipelines and other related works (which have been consented separately by Portsmouth Water) for the transfer of recycled water and source water between Bedhampton Springs and Havant Thicket Reservoir.

The construction and operation of the Project would be supported by other temporary and permanent works.

The Project will require the demolition, disassembly and/or temporary relocation of a number of small structures.

The Project is located within the administrative areas of the following local authorities:

• East Hampshire District Council

• Eastleigh Borough Council

• Fareham Borough Council

• Hampshire County Council

• Havant Borough Council

• Portsmouth City Council

• Winchester City Council

Plans of the location of the Project are contained in the Location Plan (Document reference 2.1) and the Works Plans (Document reference 2.3), both of which can be viewed in the Planning Inspectorate's website at the following link: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/WA010002

The DCO would enable the compulsory acquisition of land, new rights over land and the imposition of restrictions that are required to construct, operate and maintain the Project. In addition, it contains powers for the possession and use of land on a temporary basis to facilitate the construction and maintenance of the Project, and powers in respect of Havant Thicket Reservoir and related infrastructure. The DCO would also authorise alterations to the layout of streets, the construction of accesses to the Project, the temporary closure of public rights of way, street works, removal of hedgerows and the application, disapplication and modification of legislation.

Environmental Impact Assessment Development

The Project is an Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. This means that the proposed works constitute development for which EIA is required. The application is therefore accompanied by an Environmental Statement ("the ES") which provides a detailed description of the Project and its likely significant environmental effects.

Application Form and Accompanying Documents

The application form and all accompanying documents (including the ES, a Guide to the Application, a draft of the DCO and an associated Explanatory Memorandum) can be viewed electronically and downloaded free of charge on the Planning Inspectorate's website under the documents tab until at least the end of the Relevant Representation period on 24 August 2026:

https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/WA010002

This link will also be available on the Applicant's website: www.hampshirewtrwrp.co.uk

Copies of the application documents may be requested by contacting the Applicant on 0800 254 5138 or by email at HampshireWTRWRP@southernwater.co.uk. Requests for documents in an alternative format such as large print or audio for those with visual impairments or in an alternative language for those who do not speak English as a first language will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Requests for printed copies of these documents will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A charge will apply to contribute to the printing and postage costs and will be confirmed on request. The cost of providing copies of the application documents will be £0.35 per page, up to a maximum of £10,000.

The application documents are available for electronic inspection via computer, free of charge, until at least the end of the Relevant Representation period on 24 August 2026, at the following locations:

Venue and address *

Bishop's Waltham Library

Free Street, Bishop's Waltham, Southampton, SO32 1EE

Cosham Library

Spur Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3EB

Eastleigh Library

1st Floor, Swan Centre, Eastleigh, SO50 5SF

Fareham Library

Osborn Road, Fareham, PO16 7EN

Havant Library

Havant Meridian Centre, Havant, PO9 1UN

Leigh Park Library

50 Park Parade, Leigh Park, Havant, PO9 5AB

Paulsgrove Library

Marsden Road, Portsmouth, PO6 4JB

Waterlooville Library

The Precinct, Waterlooville, PO7 7DT

We recommend contacting the venues prior to visiting to confirm opening hours. A library card may be necessary. Documents may only be available for viewing on a computer during staffed hours.

Making a Relevant Representation on the Application

Becoming an Interested Party gives you the right to make representations about the application to the Planning Inspectorate. Any person may register as an Interested Party by submitting a Relevant Representation on the application during the representation period, which must be made directly to the Planning Inspectorate. Any representations (giving notice of any interest in, or objection to, the application) must be made on the Planning Inspectorate's Registration and Relevant Representation Form. The Registration and Relevant Representation Form can be accessed and completed online on the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project page of the Planning Inspectorate's website:

https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/WA010002

If you require guidance, or other methods to obtain and complete a hard copy of the Planning Inspectorate's Registration and Relevant Representation Form, please telephone 0303 444 5000. Completed forms should be sent to the Planning Inspectorate, c/o QUADIENT, 69 Buckingham Avenue, Slough SL1 4PN. The application reference (WA010002) should be quoted in any correspondence.

Further guidance on how to register and make a relevant representation can be found on the Planning Inspectorate's advice page via the following link: www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-how-to-register-to-have-your-say-and-make-a-relevant-representation

It should be noted that personal data, such as the name of persons over 18, will be published alongside a representation. If you do not wish personal data to be made publicly available, you should state why when submitting the representation. If necessary, the Planning Inspectorate will publish the representations with your name and personal data redacted. Please note that all representations submitted will be published on the Planning Inspectorate's website and will be subject to their privacy policy, found online here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-inspectorate-privacy-notice/customer-privacy-notice

Please note that representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by 24 August 2026.

Contacting the Applicant

To find out more about the Project, you can visit the Applicant's website at:

www.hampshirewtrwrp.co.uk

You can contact the Applicant directly with questions about the application documents or the Project more generally by using the contact information below:

Email: HampshireWTWRP@southernwater.co.uk

Telephone: 0800 254 5138

Write to: FREEPOST HAMPSHIRE WTWRP CONSULTATION