If your land, property or business may be affected by the proposed White Horse Reservoir (previously known as South East Strategic Reservoir Option), our specialist compulsory purchase solicitors can help you understand your rights, protect your interests and secure the best possible outcome.
Thames Water Utilities Limited is developing its plans to create a new reservoir to provide more than 30 million cubic metres of water storage together with associated development for the construction and operation of the scheme (including water transfer tunnels/pipelines, water inlet and outlet structures, pumping stations, watercourse diversions, new access roads, temporary railway sidings to support construction works, parking, wildlife and environmental areas and leisure, recreation and education areas). If consented, the reservoir is intended to supply water to 15 million people in the southeast - and so play a role in tackling expected future water shortages – in addition to creating over 1,000 jobs during its construction.
This scheme is proposed for a site to the southwest of Abingdon, Oxfordshire and, if consented, would give Thames Water powers to acquire land, or impose rights over adjacent land etc, for the benefit of the scheme and without the legal owner’s agreement or consent.
The current stage of the White Horse Reservoir is set out below.
On current estimates an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise the construction and use of this new reservoir is anticipated to be submitted in November 2026, with the aspiration that work on the scheme should start in earnest in 2028 and the reservoir thereafter operational by 2040. In the interim Thames Water will likely strive to acquire the land, whether by agreement or compulsorily.
Our specialist team can help you to understand your legal rights and remedies, with appropriate advice and action to ensure that the scheme does not unlawfully or unfairly prejudice you, your property and your financial interests.
We can proactively manage all steps of the procedure, from initial notices, making representations, serving blight notices, seeking discretionary purchase, settling statutory compensation claims to formal legal challenge (High Court and Valuation Tribunal).
We seek the best outcome permissible by law. Our solicitors are members of the Compulsory Purchase Association (CPA) and National Infrastructure Projects Association (NIPA), but are also recognised in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for their expertise in large schemes of this type.
Where there is a legal entitlement to reimbursement of your legal costs we claim these on your behalf, striving at all times to make our involvement cost-neutral where we can.
Learn more about our expertise and the full range of support we provide.
For clients affected by this scheme we can offer the following fixed-fee packages:
| Summary Review | Bespoke Review and Evaluation | Need to Sell Review |
|---|---|---|
| Helps you to understand the scheme, its likely progression and impact upon you and your likely remedies and/or appropriate next steps or action points. | Includes a bespoke letter of advice with full title review, consideration of proposed scheme works (on your land and adjacent), potential mitigation measures, likely heads of claim/compensation, evidence required to support statutory claims and/or the making of representations (objections) and appropriate action points to secure best outcomes. | Will ascertain whether you have, or may have, a qualifying blight claim and/or are able to pursue a “sale under shadow” or discretionary purchase of your property, giving you a clear route map to “move on” with your life, notwithstanding the scheme. |
| Cost - £695 plus VAT | Cost - £1,895 plus VAT and disbursements | Cost from - £1,295 plus VAT and disbursements (pricing depending on factors to nature whether freehold-leasehold and title entries) |
| This package is best for: Those who are unsure how the scheme impacts them and/or want a summary of what their rights are now or may be in future. | This package is best for: Those who wish to proactively protect their position with clear bespoke advice as to what to do, how to do it and when. | This package is best for: Those who wish to sell or are currently struggling to sell their property because of the scheme. |
The scheme has the following stages (the current stage is pre-application and acceptance).
An application is expected to be made ~November 2026.
Further details are available at the following websites:
If you have any concerns over the impact of a scheme on your land or property, or indeed any other compulsory purchase issue, our CPO solicitors are able to help.
Call us on 01206 593933 today to speak with one of our specialist CPO team. Or complete the form below.
A Mackman Group collaboration - market research by Mackman Research | website design by Mackman
