Seeking feedback from local residents on leakage centre plans

HR Wallingford, which owns Howbery Business Park, is inviting local residents to review and comment on the proposals for the planning application of the National Leakage Research and Test Centre. If you weren’t able to attend our public consultation event on 15 April, there is still time to submit your comments. Have a look at the documents mentioned below and send us feedback.

The new facility aims to allow water companies and innovators to develop and test new methods to find and repair leaks without risk to the live water network, helping reach the government target of reducing leakage by 50% over the next 27 years.

The detailed planning application, which we are aiming to submit in May 2025, is to develop the National Leakage Research and Test Centre in the grounds of Howbery Business Park and the two fields directly to the north.

The proposed development will feature 5 km of underground pipework, leakage bunkers, valves, and taps to simulate household water usage. Supporting infrastructure on Howbery Park will include a control room, water tank, pumping and dosing room, an electrical equipment room, and a footbridge. Once constructed, the centre will be operated HR Wallingford.

We are undergoing a thorough consultation process before submitting the planning application and would like to hear about the proposals from local residents.

There are details about the project in this Powerpoint presentation:NLRTC Pre planning application summary R01-00 and in the pdf –Proposed landscape

We encourage feedback via email at[email protected] or fill in ourfeedback form.

Also  note that to date we have submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment screening request to SODC, and archaeologists have conducted trial trenching within Howbery Park and in the fields. This preliminary archaeological work is in line with Oxfordshire County Council’s requirements and must be completed prior to any planning application submission.

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