Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed Fens Reservoir at Chatteris on Chatteris Airfield.

Anglian Water is responsible for the development of the Fens reservoir. Proposals will be consulted on and will follow the requirements of the National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure. A traffic and transport assessment is currently underway and further information will be shared with communities as part of the next phase of consultation this Autumn.

Anglian Water plans to submit the application for a Development Consent Order in 2027. After which determination of the application by the Secretary of State is expected in 2028/29 and should Development Consent be granted, construction of the reservoir could start in 2029/30.

A socio-economic strategy for the project is being developed with input from the local authorities and community and includes assessing the number of jobs that could be created both during construction and operation.

Anglian Water is carrying out extensive land referencing, and the company’s approach is to seek to acquire land by negotiation, as far as possible. In support of this approach, the project has established a ‘Land Engagement Forum’, established in 2023 to complement the ongoing and direct engagement offered to all land and property owners.