Our vision for the reservoir – supporting thriving communities and nature

The emerging design has been developed to seek to integrate with the surrounding villages and farmland, and respect the local area’s character and heritage. Connections to local communities could provide opportunities for people to access and enjoy water and nature.

People

The reservoir will be at the heart of a revitalised countryside. Areas within and around it will be opened for public use, and leisure opportunities created on the water and in the surrounding landscape. New connections will be provided from nearby villages, so that people can access and enjoy water and nature.

The reservoir will promote a change to more regenerative land management, and diverse opportunities for local people, agriculture and businesses.

Nature

The reservoir will be thoughtfully designed to respect and reveal the local area’s rich character and heritage.

It will help the environment to thrive and to increase the presence and diversity of local wildlife.

Water

The reservoir will secure a resilient supply of water for people across Lincolnshire and the surrounding areas for decades to come. It will mean less water taken from sensitive groundwater sources, replenishing the environment and helping springs to flow.

It will protect water supplies for agriculture, while helping people and nature to reconnect.

Design principles overview

Design principles are a set of guidelines for how a project should be designed. We have developed indicative design principles specific to the reservoir in Lincolnshire which have guided how we have developed the emerging design to date. These are summarised below.