We’re currently between phases of our £12-million-pound investment to improve the resilience of the water supply network between Maidstone and Ashford.
A recap of phase one can be seen below. The second phase of work, laying approximately eight kilometres of new water main between Charing and Ashford, is being planned.
We’re working towards a construction start date in April 2025, with the aim of completing the project by autumn 2026. With this date in mind, you may see us out and about from February, carrying out pre-project work, such as removing hedges and carrying out surveys.
We know that as the population in our supply area grows, so too will demand for water. This project provides increased connectivity in our network and will ultimately connect our new water treatment works in Aylesford to drinking water storage tanks in Maidstone, Charing and Ashford.
This will ensure we can continue to provide top-quality drinking water in the area for decades to come. It will also provide us with the flexibility to move water around our network more easily at times of disruption. In total across both phases, we’ll be laying approximately 17 kilometres of new pipeline.
Pipe route
Although most of the work will take place in private land, the pipeline will need to be laid across or along several roads. When we do this, we’ll need to close the roads to keep everyone safe.
The roads we’ll be working within are:
Pilgrims Way(opens in a new tab)
Junction of Pett Lane, Westwell Lane and Wicken Lane(opens in a new tab)
Wootten Lane(opens in a new tab)
Further locations along Westwell Lane(opens in a new tab)
Amberleaze(opens in a new tab)
The Street(opens in a new tab)
M20*
Sandyhurst Lane**
A20 / Maidstone Road**
The image shows the route of the new pipeline, and you can view diversion routes, where confirmed, by clicking on the roads above.
*We will be tunnelling beneath the M20 and so a diversion route is not required.
**If required, diversion routes for Sandyhurst Lane and the A20 will be made available once confirmed. We're carrying out investigatory work in February (see updates below) to confirm the pipe route and method required.
Join us online to find out more
We’ll be holding an online public information session on Wednesday 22 January, where you can meet members of the project team, and find out more about the work we’re doing.
There will be a short presentation at the start, followed by an opportunity for you to ask the team any questions about the second phase of the project.
Details of how to attend the meeting have been sent to residents along the route via letter or email.
Phase one
The first phase of this project involved laying just under three kilometres of new water main in the Wichling and Doddington area, as well as almost six kilometres between drinking water storage tanks just outside Maidstone and Charing. The final components of this phase are due to finish this autumn.
Project updates
Monday, 17 February 2025
09:00 AM
Lane closure on A20
We need to work out the best route to lay our new pipeline within the A20. To do this, we need to carry out some investigatory work to help us establish the ground condition and location of other utilities.
This will take place on the A20 between the junction with Sandyhurst Lane and Goddington Lane and the roundabout at Orchard Heights from Monday 17 February to Friday 7 March 2025.
We'll need to close a lane for this work, but traffic flow will be maintained and to complete work as quickly as possible, our teams will be working extended hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday, 8:00am to 1:00pm.
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
18:00 PM
Online public information session
We'll be holding an online information session on Wednesday 22 January from 6:00pm to 7:00pm for those wishing to find out more about this phase of our project.
Details of this have been sent via letter and email to customers along the affected route, including those in phase one.
We look forward to sharing details of the project with you.
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