Our emerging design

Overall approach

The shape and layout of the emerging design have been influenced by the local landscape shape and character. It uses existing natural ridges with gently sloping embankments designed to integrate with the surrounding villages and farmland.

Our ideas include places for recreation both on the water and land, with other areas focused on nature to create calm spaces. A visitor centre and recreation hubs are located in the south, with areas centred on nature and tranquillity to the north. The peninsula creates a link between these two areas.

The emerging design features a lagoon in the south of the reservoir where water would always be kept at around the same level. This could create an area where consistent access to water is easier.

We have considered the potential for connections to the surrounding communities and around the reservoir itself with opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding connecting the different areas of the reservoir.

We’ve included a variety of habitat ideas to encourage wildlife, with different wetland types both inside the reservoir and surrounding it. This includes ideas to enhance the existing watercourses to support nature, create opportunities for recreation, and contribute to better flood management.

Embankment design

We are seeking to avoid a reservoir with basic, uniform embankment slopes that provide no shelter or integration with the surrounding landscape.

At this stage, we have considered options for embankments with shallower gradients and with planting and other features that could improve accessibility and appearance.

We estimate that the embankment crest height will be up to 15 metres above existing ground level. However, these are not fixed at this stage and require further investigation and assessment.

What positive embankment integration could include. Illustration showing a range of ways in which the embankment could be integrated into its surroundings What positive embankment integration could include. Illustration showing a range of ways in which the embankment could be integrated into its surroundings

Our emerging design

The size of the reservoir means that it presents the potential for many different areas and experiences.

We think including this variation could be a good way of making sure the reservoir offers opportunities for everyone, while also supporting the natural environment.

At this stage, we have organised the emerging design into six areas and explain our ideas in this diagram.

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Find out more

To view our emerging design in more detail, and to see visualisations of what different parts of the site could look like, view our interactive map.

Interactive map

Have your say

You can find out more information about our emerging design by reading our main site design brochure.

You can find out more about the process we followed by reading our main site design report.

We want to hear your views on our emerging design and the opportunities we've identified for the features it could include. Complete the 'emerging design for main reservoir site' section of our feedback form.

Feedback form