Landmark plans to upgrade Hastings’ water and wastewater networks have been revealed.
The multimillion pound proposals have been developed following extensive engagement with the local community and key stakeholders, following challenges posed by water supply and flooding issues in recent years, as well as ongoing effort to protect and enhance the environment.
The plan includes actions to:
- Reduce flood risk in the town centre, alongside partners
- Improve the resilience of the water supply network, to keep taps flowing
- Upgrade how Southern Water manage wastewater in the town, including cuts to storm overflows.
Tim McMahon, Managing Director for Water at Southern Water, said:
“We have been working closely with the local community, Hastings Borough Council and other partners, in putting together this important action plan – and I am confident that it will live up to our customers’ expectations.
“We recognise that our performance in the Hastings area must improve, and we are committing to investing and upgrading across the board to get there.”
Highlights of Southern Water’s Hastings plan:
Water
- Improvements to the water supply works at Beauport and Brede
- Refurbishment of reservoir pumps and valves at the Darwell site, and upgrades to the main water supply pipe which connects it to Brede
- Construction of a new reservoir at Newgate
- Installation of 25km of new water mains, and associated pressure management technology, in the Hastings area
Wastewater
- Increased work by Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force in Hastings and Bexhill catchment to reduce storm overflows, through nature-based and engineering solutions, such as water butt rollout, new storm tanks, and enhanced infrastructure
- Refurbishment of 500 metres of sewers in the area
- Upgrades of Rock-A-Nore and Galley Hill pumping stations
- Actions to better manage surface water challenges at Alexandra Park, to lessen risk of flooding.
The full extent of this investment will be dependent on Ofwat’s decision on Southern Water’s 2025-30 business plan later this year.
