Thames Water propose major project for Didcot Valley Park

The water company has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment screening opinion to both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils for the development of the ‘Didcot Valley Park Trunk Main’.

It proposes a new pipe, 4.7km in length, to connect Hagbourne Hill Service Reservoir with the existing Steventon Diversion Main at a point just south of the A4130.

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One kilometre of the southern part of the underground water main will be in the South Oxfordshire district, with the remaining 3.7km in the Vale of White Horse District Council area.

The approximate alignment of the pipeline through South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse (Image: Stantec)

Didcot Valley Park development, being built by Persimmon Homes, will result in a total of 4,250 new homes, along with local centres, schools, community and leisure facilities, open space and green infrastructure in the west of Didcot.

CGI of Valley Park Primary School (Image: Vale of White Horse District Council)

Agent Stantec submitted initial documents to the councils on behalf of applicant Thames Water Utilities Ltd for the new main, which said the provision of drinking water to the large-scale development will require ‘modification’ to the existing clean water supply network.

The application said: “The proposed project is of local importance and there will not be any permanent above ground works located in an sensitive sites.

Valley Park (Image: Taylor Wimpey)

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“A key consideration for the pipeline construction is the temporary nature of the potential environmental effect.

“The pipeline will not be visible at ground level after completion and restoration of the affected land and as such any impacts on the landscape will be short term in nature.”

The councils will advise the applicant on whether an Environmental Assessment is required for the development by early April.