FAQs

Submitting an outline planning application will help us to confirm that our Local Planning Authorities are happy with the general principles of our proposals, before we develop more detailed plans. Once approved, an outline planning application will provide a framework for the ongoing development of our plans, but more specific details will still need to be submitted through ‘Reserved Matters’ applications and approved by the Local Planning Authorities before we can start building.

We are running an initial round of public engagement, between Wednesday 4 February and Wednesday 18 March 2026. This will include a series of face-to-face and virtual events, various different ways to find out about and see what we are proposing and an opportunity to provide feedback at our events, online, via email or by post.

This will help us to carefully consider the views of local communities and other stakeholders, as we continue to develop our plans. Then, in 2027, we will hold further public consultation with more refined proposals, ahead of submitting our outline planning application in early 2028. 

After our outline planning application has been submitted, the Local Authorities will then open their own formal consultation, inviting residents, organisations and statutory bodies to share their views.  

We have also established a Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) with representatives from local organisations to help shape our proposals for Broad Oak Water.

The group, which meets regularly, is comprised of professional organisations in the fields of tourism, business, culture and heritage, environmental bodies, community groups and residents' associations, alongside parish councils and councillors.

You can find out more about the SAG, and view minutes from each meeting, on our project website: https://southeastwater.co.uk/broadoak 

Given the scale and technical nature of Broad Oak Water, it is standard practice to refine the design over time to ensure all requirements are met. 

While our cost estimates have become more detailed, they remain projections that will be further refined through the design, planning and commercial stages. Currently, the estimated whole-life cost of building and operating the reservoir is £1.1 billion.  

Water companies write business plans explaining what they want to invest money in over each five-year period. Ofwat (the industry regulator) then reviews these plans, to make sure they deliver benefits for customers and are cost effective.  

The design work currently being undertaken for Broad Oak Water is already factored into customer bills. For costs relating to detailed design and beyond, the funding for investment in our infrastructure would be spread across our customer base over a minimum of 25 years, keeping the individual contribution small and sustainable. Exact details will be agreed with our regulators as we progress.