We’re planning to build a new reservoir to the north of Canterbury in Kent, a key water resources scheme in our Water Resources Management Plan. We are currently at design phase with plans to develop and submit a planning application in 2027.
Once complete, Broad Oak Water will ensure a resilient and sustainable water supply that will benefit the natural environment and community, now and in the future.
Broad Oak Water is a large-scale investment and will be the second major reservoir to be built in the South East in the last three decades. It will not only help meet the future demand for drinking water in East Kent, but also create new habitats, increase biodiversity and provide social benefits for the local community.
It could hold 5,126 million litres of water and supply 22 million litres of water a day, equivalent to 275,000 full baths. Raw water would be taken from the Great Stour near Monkton and then held at the reservoir until needed, before being treated at a new water treatment works and pumped to homes and businesses.
The scheme originates as early as the 1940s with the land purchased by South East Water in the 1970s. Plans for the reservoir have featured consistently in our Water Resources Management Plans in recent years to reduce the amount of water we take from groundwater and rare chalk stream habitats. We aim to deliver water from the reservoir from 2035.
We will be carrying out a public consultation on our early plans for the reservoir next year and will share details on how to take part nearer the time.
An environmentally-led scheme
Our vision for Broad Oak Water is driven by the environment and our ambition to support and enhance biodiversity:
- Broad Oak Water will reduce our impact on chalk streams, as we reduce our abstraction from groundwater sources.
- South East Water is working closely with partner agencies such as the Environment Agency, Natural England, Historic England and the Kent Wildlife Trust to follow expert guidance and ensure the protection of plant and animal species.
- We have an obligation to fulfil Biodiversity Net Gain targets, providing new habitats and enhancing the area.
The reservoir will provide new greenspace and areas of nature accessible to the local community and visitors, as well as the potential for community activities such as walking trails, cycling, bird watching, and educational activities.
Ground investigation works
Ground Investigation (GI) works are taking place in agricultural fields close to the reservoir site. Beginning in July 2025, and expected to run through until November 2025, they will provide more information about the ground underneath the area.
This was not construction work and does not signal the start of the reservoir build however machinery, personnel and activity have been visible on site for the first time.
We’re exploring the subsurface soils, rocks and groundwater to assess ground conditions and guide our engineers so that when construction begins, we will be able to build safely by avoiding unsuitable ground.
This exploratory survey work will provide us with the data necessary to plan the reservoir design with a sustainable and cost-effective engineering solution.
Carrying out survey work
In 2024, we started wider surveys of the Broad Oak Water site, and the local area, to better understand:
- The wildlife that lives and visits the site
- The flow of local rivers and water quality
- The ground conditions
- The heritage of any buildings.
This extensive work will continue until 2028, providing us with a baseline from which to plan, measure and design.
Find out more about surveys undertaken for this project here.
Stakeholder and community engagement
We have established a Stakeholder Advisory Group with representatives from local organisations to help shape our proposals for Broad Oak Water.
The group, which meets regularly, is comprised of professional organisations in the fields of tourism, business, culture and heritage, environmental bodies, community groups and residents' associations, alongside parish councils and borough councillors.
Their role is to help us shape Broad Oak Water, submit views on behalf of the wider community and share their in-depth knowledge and insights, making sure we can mitigate potential issues and understand local feeling.
Our next phase of engagement will be to discuss our draft plans with members of the public, in early 2026. This will involve events such as public meetings, drop-in sessions, online webinars, surveys and printed materials. We’ll provide more details here as soon as it’s available.
Get in touch
For enquiries relating to Broad Oak reservoir, please contact broadoak@southeastwater.co.uk.
