Thames Water has enlisted the Arup Binnies joint venture (JV) as its technical partner to spearhead the development of a proposed reservoir in Oxfordshire, England, UK.
This partnership will provide the Thames Water Strategic Resource Options (SRO) team with a network of technical specialists to tackle the challenges of engineering design, environmental assessment, planning, and land acquisition.
The selection of Arup Binnies follows a competitive procurement process, as part of the Thames Water SRO Technical Partner Framework.
Thames Water Procurement and Supply Chain head Mohit Farmah said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Arup Binnies joint venture as our new technical partner for SESRO [South East Strategic Reservoir Option].
"This supply chain of technical experts with global reach will ensure our reservoir proposals are not only compliant with the Planning Act 2008 but are also developed to a world-class standard.”
The proposed SESRO is expected to bolster water security for millions in the years to come.
This reservoir is designed to serve approximately 15 million customers across the catchments of Thames Water, Southern Water, and Affinity Water starting from 2040.
According to a forecast by Thames Water, an additional one billion litres of water per day will be required by 2050 to meet the demands of a growing population in London and the Thames Valley.
The Arup Binnies collaboration is set to bring its infrastructure expertise to the table, having already contributed significantly to the Thames Tideway Tunnel and the Fens and Lincs Reservoirs.
With public consultation in full swing, Thames Water is actively engaging with communities and stakeholders to refine the reservoir's design and construction plans.
The feedback gathered will be instrumental in shaping the project's future, with the Arup Binnies JV at the helm of this development phase.
Pending government approval and inclusion in Thames Water's draft Water Resource Management Plan, the JV is set to facilitate the submission of a development consent order (DCO) by 2026.
Should the DCO be approved, the anticipated construction commencement is set for 2029, with the reservoir's operational launch targeted for 2040.
