THE first large-scale new water storage reservoir in the UK since the 1980s took a major step forward as a joint venture between Wales and England-based civil engineering contractors was appointed to build the flagship development. 

Ruthin-based Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK and Mackley, whose head office is in West Sussex, have united as Future Water MJJV Limited to construct the Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire in a contract worth £167 million. 

With more than 150 years’ experience across a wide range of sectors, including water, energy, coastal protection and flood defence, Future Water MJJV is qualified in tackling complex and challenging civil engineering schemes. 

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Havant Thicket Reservoir is being progressed under an innovative partnership between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water, with Portsmouth Water appointing Future Water MJJV following a detailed tender process.  

As part of the project, a new £41 million tunnelled pipeline, running to and from the reservoir, is also set to be installed by Ward & Burke Construction Limited.

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Bob Taylor, chief executive officer at Portsmouth Water, said: “This is a major milestone for the Havant Thicket Reservoir project, and we are delighted to have these two exceptional contractors delivering the scheme.

“We were highly impressed by the proposals put forward by Future Water MJJV and Ward & Burke during the tender process, with both companies being able to call upon vastly experienced teams, with strong track records in successfully delivering major infrastructure.” 

Havant Thicket Reservoir in Havant will secure critical water supplies for the South East of England, an area that’s already under serious water stress. It will also help protect environmentally sensitive chalk streams and create a new green leisure facility to benefit local communities and wildlife.

Once completed in 2029, the reservoir will hold approximately 8.7 billion litres of water and be able to supply up to 21 million litres of water each day.

It will be one mile from east to west, half a mile from north to south, with a new wetland on its northern shore, and is being built on a 160-hectare grassland site which has been owned by Portsmouth Water since the mid-1960s.