Southern Water has made a £1.556 million (inc VAT) AMP8 direct contract award to provide alternative land for Solent Wader & Brent Geese as part of Habitats Regulations Assessment requirements for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project.
The water company is currently in the process of developing the proposed c £1.3 billion Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project which includes a new water recycling plant located northwest of the existing Budds Farm Wastewater Treatment Works in Havant, Hampshire. Three pumping stations, including a high lift pumping station, would also be located alongside the water recycling plant.
The direct contract has been awarded to Wild Capital 1 Ltd – described on the company’s website as the only national developer of high-integrity Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) offset units and Nutrient Neutrality (NN) credits.
Earliest date the contract will be signed is 16 July 2026 – estimated start and end contract dates are 16 July 2026 to 12 July 2056
Directr contract awarded on basis of “extreme and unavoidable urgency”
Justification for the direct contract award to secure the land required has been made on the basis of “extreme and unavoidable urgency.”
The water company has specified that the proposed land must be capable of delivering a minimum of 2.5 hectares of Brent Geese mitigation within a 10 km radius of the Budds Farm site. It must secure Natural England's approval for a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) that ensures appropriate habitat creation and long-term management for the full operational life of the new Water Recycling Plant.
The HMMP must also be agreed and in place prior to the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project's Development Consent Order (DCO) examination period, reflecting the high-risk nature of the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA).
Southern Water submitted its Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the project on 28 May 2026. The application has now been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate, marking an important milestone as the project moves into the next stage of the planning process. The examination will be carried out independently, with opportunities for stakeholders and the public to participate by registering and submitting representations.
The application will now be subject to a detailed and independent examination, during which stakeholders and local communities will have the opportunity to have their say by registering with the Planning Inspectorate to become an Interested Party. A final decision on the Project will be made by the Secretary of State following the examination.
Deadline for submitting representations to the Inspectorate is 11:59pm on 24 August 2026 – click here for more information.
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