The Regulators' Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) has written to Anglian Water and Cambridge Water informing them that the current gate three date in the RAPID programme for the Fens Reservoir is to be delayed beyond 30 April 2026 to a later date.

Image: artist's impression Fens Reservoir

The partnership between water regulators Ofwat, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) reached the decision following the update provided by both companies on the latest development work at the conditional review point of 31 October 2025.

RAPID said that while it noted the progress being made with the overall reservoir design, there were important areas which required further work to achieve the maturity required for a gate three submission. Key ares include remaining optionality in solution design, including the possible sources of water to fill the reservoir, and protection of the environment.

Gate three of the RAPID programme represents an important checkpoint in the process of preparing the solution for its Development Consent Order (DCO) application. The letters state:

“We have reflected on the critical decisions that remain and the feedback you have received from Defra, Ofwat and the Environment Agency on the importance of consistency between the submission of Fens Reservoir gate three and your water resources management plan (WRMP)…...

“RAPID ….considers it necessary to move your gate three submission from 30 April 2026 to a later date. However, further discussion with Anglian Water and Cambridge Water is needed to discuss the programme schedule and find an appropriate new date for submission and interim measures to monitor progress.”

RAPID has asked the water companies to present a detailed programme, including proposed timing for gate three and interim milestones that it will use to monitor progress by March 2026 which should include the key decisions with suggested dates needed to progress through the planning and procurement phases of the programme.

They have also been asked to identify a limited number of critical 'hold points' where the regulators can be updated and re-confirm support for the project.