Plans that promise to help 'future generations' in Cambridgeshire takes major step forward. A new reservoir is being created to help water supply in the county. News Katie Green Senior multimedia reporter 17:00, 28 Oct 2026 Plans for a new reservoir in Cambridgeshire that would secure water for "future generations" is taking a major step forward. Anglian Water and Cambridge Water continue to progress plans for the new Fens Reservoir in Chatteris. Ask Cambridge Live anything Ask This Article Article continues below The new reservoir aims to bring a new water supply to the county and "secure water supplies to meet the need for future generations". The proposals are taking their next step forward as Anglian Water has requested a screening opinion application for earthwork trials on the site. Article continues below The aim of the earthwork trials are to "assess the construction, performance and long-term behaviour of reservoir embankments formed using site-won materials". Article continues below 138205441702 Anglian Water added: "The trial will evaluate the proposed excavation, handling and material reuse methods under representative site conditions, while investigating the influence of factors such as foundation preparation, material type, compaction methodology, embankment geometry and staged loading on earthwork performance. "The findings will be used to assess the practicality, safety and environmental performance of the proposed earthworks activities and inform the design, construction methodology and earthworks specification for the proposed Fens Reservoir embankments." Article continues below The project will be temporary and Anglian Water anticipates a temporary planning application will be sought for up to five years. Components of the trials will include a trial embankment measuring around 150m by 50m. The other components include: a borrow pit measuring 90m by 100m, a topsoil stockpile measuring 100m by 150m, a superficial peat stockpile measuring 100m by 150m, a clay stockpile measuring 135m by 64m, a water management area and associated buildings and parking. The work is anticipated to take place between April 2027 and October 2029. If approved, work will take place between 7am and 6pm Monday to Fridays, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. Article continues below These will be the working times between March and October, which is earthwork season. In the non-earthwork season, which is from November to February, the working times will be the same. A private and unnamed road that serves Chatteris Airfield has been identified as the "preferred" access route to the site.

Anglian Water set to invest c £350 million in Lincolnshire between 2025-2030. Anglian Water is set to invest around £350 million across Lincolnshire between 2025 and 2030 as part of its £11 billion AMP8 investment programme - its largest ever programme of investment. The water company said that as the demand for water continues to grow in the face of climate change and a growing population, this will help strengthen Lincolnshire's water and water recycling network to ensure services remain resilient and reliable for decades. In the first year of the programme, the company has replaced more than 40km of water mains, including a significant project in Spalding, with plans to replace a further 120km this year. These upgrades will help reduce leaks and bursts, improving reliability and keeping water flowing to homes and businesses. The company's Strategic Pipeline Alliance project will also see hundreds of kilometres of new interconnecting pipelines installed from Elsham in North Lincolnshire down to Essex to help move water around the region to where it is needed most, building resilience against future drought conditions. The most northernly section, a 52km pipeline between Elsham and Lincoln, has been in construction and is expected to be completed in the coming months. A key part of Anglian Water's long-term resilience plans is the proposed new reservoir near Sleaford, with its third stage of public consultation now live until 16 December 2026. Once completed, the reservoir could provide up to 169 million litres of water every day, helping secure supplies while reducing pressure on sensitive water sources and supporting the local environment. Alongside improving water supplies, Anglian Water is investing £69 million to help protect Lincolnshire's rivers and coastline, including upgrades across its water recycling centres and investment into new treatment processes. Anglian Water is investing a further £25 million to improve bathing water quality and help protect the county's beaches and coastal environment. It is also increasing stormwater storage capacity to help the network cope with heavier rainfall and reduce the risk of pollution spills during extreme weather. Supporting local communities during essential investment upgrades In order to deliver this scale of investment, Anglian Water says it is working closely with Lincolnshire County Council, as a founding partner of the council's Street Works Charter, to minimise disruption for residents and businesses while these essential investment upgrades are carried out. As the county's largest utility provider, Anglian Water submits around 14,000 roadwork permits to the council each year. The two organisations are working together to improve how roadworks are planned and managed, where possible, to avoid multiple sets of traffic management on the same routes and reduce repeat disruption for communities. Through the success of the Street Works Charter, 80 per cent of urgent and emergency works are now completed within three days, up from 62 per cent before the Charter was introduced. James Ball, Water Distribution and IMRDS Director at Anglian Water, said: "We know investment on this scale means work taking place in our communities, which is why our partnership with Lincolnshire County Council is so important. By planning ahead, coordinating activity and finding ways to reduce disruption wherever possible, we're working hard to deliver these improvements as efficiently as we can. The disruption is felt now, but these improvements will bring lasting benefits." Ashley Behan, Traffic Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, added: "Lincolnshire is seeing significant investment in essential infrastructure, and our role is to help that work take place as efficiently as possible while keeping people moving around the county. Partnering with Anglian Water through our Street Works Charter gives us a shared commitment to keep improving." News showcase. Expert focus. Latest tenders. Watch. New account registrations. To register for a new account with Waterbriefing, please contact Waterbriefing via email at [email protected] Existing waterbriefing users - log into the new website using your original username and the new password 'waterbriefing'. You can then change your password once logged in.

Career opportunities in the water sector - Cambridge & the East | expression of Interest. Cambridge, GBR Shape the Future of Water in the East - Join Stantec's Cambridge Team! Following our appointment to Anglian Water's Strategic Partnership frameworks, Stantec is at the heart of delivering a multi-billion pound investment program for AMP8. To support this landmark win and our growing pipeline across the region, our Cambridge office is entering an ambitious phase of expansion. We are inviting Expressions of Interest from passionate professionals who want to be part of one of the UK's most significant environmental and infrastructure success stories. From protecting the unique chalk streams of the East to enhancing regional water resilience, your work here will have a direct impact on the communities where you live and work. As a key partner to Anglian Water, Stantec is tackling the biggest challenges facing the East of England: climate change, population growth, and environmental protection. At our Cambridge hub, you'll find a friendly, collaborative culture combined with the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant work. Our teams support the full project lifecycle - from strategy and concept development through to detailed design and delivery - offering varied, technically rewarding careers with real local impact. We are keen to hear from professionals at all levels across the following disciplines: * Civil Engineering * Mechanical & Electrical Engineering * Process Engineering (Water & Wastewater Treatment) * Design Management * Urban Drainage & Hydraulic Modelling * Project & Programme Management * Ecology, Environmental Planning & Environmental Services * Digital Engineering If there isn't a live role that matches your experience today, we want to hear from you anyway! We will keep in touch as new opportunities emerge throughout this exciting AMP8 period. Why Join Stantec's Water Team? Stantec's UK & Ireland Water business is building on a period of unprecedented growth. Our expertise spans the full breadth of the sector - from nature-based solutions and storm overflow mitigation to water reuse and biodiversity enhancement. Joining Stantec means collaborating with industry-leading experts and contributing to projects that matter. If improving water quality and helping deliver a resilient water supply motivates you, Stantec is a place where your career can thrive. * Learn more about our culture and projects at H2O+U. * Hear from the team: See what it's like to work here: My Stantec Stories - Lucy Ashen. Why Join Us in Cambridge and the East? Our Cambridge office is perfectly positioned on Station Road, right in the heart of the city and just a short walk from the station. It serves as a vibrant hub for a collaborative team that thrives on cross-discipline innovation. Working here means delivering schemes with a tangible local legacy. From protecting water quality in our regional rivers to strengthening drought resilience, our team is essential to supporting sustainable growth in one of the UK's most rapidly developing regions. By joining us, you'll benefit from: * Unrivalled Project Pipeline: Secure your future with our long-term frameworks, including a central role in Anglian Water's AMP8 investment program. * A Supportive Environment: A culture that prioritizes your well-being, flexibility, and professional development. * Diverse Project Exposure: Opportunities to work across the full project lifecycle, from initial strategy to detailed design. * Global Backing, Local Feel: Access the resources and reach of a global consultancy, delivered with a "community-first" mindset. Ready to make a splash in the East? Submit your expression of interest today and help us shape the future of water. About Stantec The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities. Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients' vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today's challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities. Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team. ReqID: 9580