Water is holding back growth: reservoirs are the answer.

Cambridgeshire and the Fens are an early warning system. Climate change, thus far, has exacerbated the paradoxical challenge of flooding and drought. The past few years have taught us this lesson plainly: in December 2020, one key town saw the highest river levels ever recorded; whilst two years later a severe drought hit the area, leaving the main reservoir at just 60% capacity. Yet this lack of water is not just a seasonal problem; it is a severe barrier to growth. Indeed, in an area which is supposed to house ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’, a place home to Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, and GSK, a fundamental resource is lacking: water. Without sufficient water supplies, homes cannot be built to support those employed in this growing scientific hub.

Harriet Dolby | Next Gen CEN

Earlier this year, Reeves announced that the Environment Agency would lift any objections to development around Cambridge, enabling up to 4,500 new homes and community spaces to be built. Whilst this plan reflects a key demand, it again fails to tackle the core problem: a lack of water. These shortages also stall housebuilding more broadly across the county, an area in which houses cost over £80,000 above the national average, limiting the viability of young homeownership and intergenerational fairness. 

However, the solution has been highlighted in CEN’s manifesto Changing Course, with reservoirs being key to ensuring greater water security across the country. According to the National Infrastructure Commission, we need 30 new reservoirs in the UK to support our country against drought. These infrastructure projects are brilliant for growth, unlocking areas for housebuilding while also supporting jobs in construction and water management. 

This is not just a purely economic argument though either, it is an environmental one too. Reservoirs support and boost biodiversity. Grafham Water, for example, is home to 170 species of birds, including many rare breeds. Moreover, reservoirs such as Grafham, act as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, enabling greater research into natural habitats. 

Positive steps, though, have been made. A new reservoir in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, is set to be completed by 2036, pushed through by the Labour government as it is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. Yet despite this success, it is still estimated to meet just half of future needs in the area.

Thus, whilst capital grants are often needed to support such costly plans, more free-market mechanisms must be created to enable reservoirs to be built nationwide. Deregulation is key to this. Planning laws must be modified to facilitate quicker consent, enabling construction to start sooner- especially when it comes to farm reservoirs used to support crops in times of drought. 

Cambridgeshire is a microcosm of a broader problem: water is a national security issue. Without water, growth is clearly stalled, houses and infrastructure cannot be supported, and crops cannot grow. Reservoirs are thus, at least part of the answer. Climate change is and will continue to make us adapt, so let’s use the power of the market to help us. 

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This blog was completed during the Next Gen CEN summer work experience programme. To find out more about our offerings for under 30s and to register your interest in our winter work experience programme then click here. If you are a CEN supporter, councillor, or parliamentarian and would like to write for the CEN blog, please email your idea to info@cen.uk.com.