Thames Water is facing the prospect of a Judicial Review over its proposals for a new reservoir at Abingdon in Oxfordshire when the High Court will hear the case on 25-26 June.

According to campaigners CPRE Oxfordshire and SAFERWaterS:

“The £2.6 billion mega-reservoir, which would be the second-largest in England and cover an area the size of Gatwick Airport, is completely un-necessary, will devastate local ecology and livelihoods, increase the risk of flooding and squander billpayers’ funds.

“Despite government data forecasting a 15% drop in water demand from 2024 to 2050, Thames Water has justified the huge project, which has a lifetime cost of £7.5 billion, according to Ofwat, using population growth estimates for the South East that exceed those for the entire country.”

The campaigners are questioning why Thames Water is continuing with plans for “such a huge and untested and unnecessary” infrastructure project.

Derek Stork, a director of SAFERWaterS said:

“This is a scandalous misuse of public money. Instead of investing in essential sewage cleanup and modern water reuse systems, Thames Water wants to build an untested bunded structure the height of an eight-story building that puts communities at risk while lining shareholder pockets.”

Referring to the water company’s continung financial crisis, the campaigners argue that water companies are incentivised to build large infrastructure because it boosts their balance sheets and shareholder value—yet Thames Water is already spending £15 million a month on consultants while shareholders have written down their investment to zero. “Meanwhile, US hedge funds like Elliott Management, known for their controversial tactics, are circling,” they warn.

Lisa Warne, director of CPRE Oxfordshire, said:

“The UK is already one of Europe’s most wasteful water users per person – we currently reuse just 0.08% of urban wastewater, the lowest rate in Europe. The government should prioritise leakage reduction, water reuse, and efficiency, not this vanity reservoir.”

Olly Glover, MP for Didcot and Wantage commented:

“I, and other local Liberal Democrat colleagues, have long called for proper transparency and rigorous scrutiny of decision making around Thames Water’s plans for this enormous reservoir near Abingdon. Many of my constituents have significant concerns about the impact of such a large reservoir, and I welcome any opportunity for these concerns to be heard and addressed fully. Given their shoddy record on sewage, and wobbly finances, local residents have no faith in Thames Water to properly deliver such a huge and complex project."

The Judicial Review for the proposed Abingdon (SESRO) reservoir has been brought on grounds that the Government has decided to approve Thames Water’s plans without a Public Inquiry. Following the hearing, the High Court ruling the will be available in July.