South East Water is set to invest more than £2 million to improve the water network between Hale and Aldershot.

The water company will install around four kilometres of new water main to help increase the capacity of the network, with the majority of pipe to be laid in private land, including part of the Bourley and Long Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.

South East Water is working with landowners, managers and regulators to ensure the right environmental mitigation is in place.

Matthew Cooper, South East Water Project Manager said:

“This is an important project for us as we look to future-proof drinking water supplies as the community grows in the area.

“We need to strengthen our network to supply water to thousands of additional properties without impacting existing customers’ supplies.

The company is still in the planning stages of the project and currently anticipates construction will start in Hale in April 2024, with work set to completed in different phases over the course of 12 months.

The utility is holding a drop-in event next week on Wednesday, 27 September between 4.30pm and 7pm at Hale Community Centre, where South East Water’s project team will be in attendance to answer questions. The project is due to be completed in March 2025.