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Anglian Water get approval to build section of major pipeline between Bexwell, near Downham Market, and Bury St Edmunds




A pipeline longer than the M6 will pass through West Norfolk after planning officers gave a major project their blessing.

Anglian Water first submitted a planning application to install a 70km pipeline from Bexwell, just outside Downham, to Bury St Edmunds in August 2021.

In its entirety, the project will use large diameter water mains to join up water supply in the east of England.

Anglian Water working on the new major pipeline route in Lincolnshire. Picture: Anglian Water
Anglian Water working on the new major pipeline route in Lincolnshire. Picture: Anglian Water

Up to 500km of interconnecting pipelines will take water from wetter parts of north Lincolnshire to the south and east of the region, where it is less readily available.

This will make it longer than the M6, and it has been described by Anglian Water as “the largest water infrastructure project the UK has seen for a generation”.

The water company now expects to begin work on the section leaving West Norfolk. The pipeline arrives in the borough via a stretch starting at Grantham in Lincolnshire.

A map showing the Anglian Water pipeline's proposed route
A map showing the Anglian Water pipeline's proposed route

The Grantham to Bexwell pipeline was designed to bypass “sensitive ecological sites” where environmental surveys have found protected species like badgers, water voles, bats and Great Crested newts.

Its bosses say that without the project the east of England would face a water deficit of 30million litres per day by 2025 - the equivalent of 4,380 Olympic swimming pools of water every year.

A flier says that the underground pipeline will run north to south from an existing water storage tank at Bexwell to another at Rede, just south of Bury St Edmunds.

Additionally, Anglian Water says it will be constructing a number of above-ground buildings as part of the latest stretch.

Anglian Water bosses say that without the project the east of England would face a water deficit of 30million litres per day by 2025. Picture: Anglian Water
Anglian Water bosses say that without the project the east of England would face a water deficit of 30million litres per day by 2025. Picture: Anglian Water

James Crompton, strategic pipeline alliance director for Anglian Water, said: “The strategic pipeline is vital in addressing the predicted ‘jaws of death’ moment for water availability in the East of England - the point at which demand for water greatly outstrips the available supply.

“With 175,000 new homes to be built in the next few years, it is vital we ensure we have resilient infrastructure in place to support local authorities in delivering their Local Plans. We look forward to working with all of the local councils on developing these proposals.”



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