Amberstone to Windmill Hill

This new pipe will connect our pumping station near Amberstone with a key existing main in Windmill Hill.

Combined with upgrading the pumping station, this will provide us with greater flexibility to move water around our network and improve our resilience in the area.

We are in the early planning stages and currently conducting surveys to help assess route options. We’re currently working towards construction starting in the spring of 2026. The project is expected to take around 18 months.

The majority of work is likely to take place in private land. The new pipeline will be installed using a combination of horizontal directional drilling and traditional trenching techniques. Horizontal directional drilling involves excavating two pits and tunnelling the new pipe underground between these two points.

In addition, rather than working from one end of the scheme through to the other, we will have multiple teams working on different areas at the same time.

As we install the new main, there will be several short closures as we cross a road, and some longer closures as we work in the carriageway. At this stage, the route is not confirmed and as soon as we have confirmed details, we’ll publish information about any road closures, including their dates, durations and any diversion routes. We’ll be working closely with East Sussex County Council Highways on this.

While we know traffic management can be disruptive, the safety of both the public and our workforce is a priority. Road closures will be kept to the shortest duration possible to minimise impact to customers and motorists.

We have already been carrying out environmental surveys as part of the planning work. This helps us understand the presence and location of wildlife including great crested newts, bats and badgers, among other species. We also carry out tree surveys to ensure we won’t impact root networks and protected trees.

Ahead of works beginning we would clear any vegetation with supervision by an ecologist to ensure no protected species are harmed by the works under the terms of two protected species licences prescribed by Natural England for Great Crested Newts and Dormice.

Any hedgerows and trees that need to be removed will be replanted in the next available planting season following completion of the works.

This webpage will be updated as work progresses, but if you have any concerns during the work, the staff on site will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

If you would like to speak to us directly, or have any questions ahead of works beginning, please call our team on 0333 000 1100 or email us at customerservices@southeastwater.co.uk

We need to lay this new pipeline as part of wider works across East Sussex to improve and upgrade our water supply network. This new pipeline will help to increase the connectivity of our infrastructure in the area, providing us with greater flexibility to move water around the network. This is particularly helpful during times of disruption.

So while we do monitor developments in the area and include population growth as part of our long term water resource management plan, this project is not linked to development but a need to provide a more interconnected and resilient network in the area.