We are investing more than £4 million to improve our network between Hale and Aldershot to future-proof drinking water supplies as the community grows.
We need to strengthen the water network in the area to supply top quality drinking water to thousands of additional properties without impacting the supply to our existing customers.
To do this, we need to install around four kilometres of new pipework to increase the capacity of the network, with the majority of pipe to be laid in private land, including part of the Bourley and Long Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.
Open access for recreational activities will be maintained at all times, with minor diversions in place at times.
There will also be some impact on public highways as roads are crossed to connect with our existing network.
This includes along Sandy Hill Road in the early stages of the project and in Bourley Road and Farnborough Road (up to the junction with Pennefather’s Road).
We are still in the planning stages of the project and currently anticipate construction to start in April 2024, with work set to completed in different phases over the course of 12 months. We are working with landowners, managers and regulators to ensure the right environmental mitigation is in place.
We will be communicating with stakeholders, residents and local businesses, including bus providers and emergency services, ahead of the planned start date.
More information, including FAQs and a map of the route, can be found here on our Engagement HQ page(opens in a new tab), where you can ask questions about the project ahead of our drop-in event.
Frequently asked questions
Click on the link below to read our frequently asked questions on the project to lay four kilometres of water main between Hale and Aldershot.
Project updates and key milestones
April update
Our work to lay around four kilometres of new water mains between Hale and Aldershot is set to start soon.
The project will begin in Sandy Hill Road in Hale on Monday, 13 May, with 800 metres of new water mains being laid in the carriageway.
A rolling road closure will be in place to protect motorists and pedestrians as works move from the Upper Hale Road junction to the northern end of Sandy Hill Road, just after Sturt Road.
Work will also start on Bourley Road in Aldershot on the same day (Monday 13 May) from the junction of Farnborough Road to Sunny Hill Road. This work will be undertaken using traffic lights and is expected to continue until September 2024.
The project will then move through the Ministry of Defence training estate between September 2024 and March 2025, from the northern end of Sandy Hill Road and entering the Bourley and Long Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest and Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area.
Also in September, work will continue along the carriageway of the A325 Farnborough Road from Bourley Road to Pennefather’s Road, which will require both a short road closure and temporary traffic lights.
March update
Planning permission for this development has now been granted by both Waverley and Rushmoor Borough Councils.
We are now working to confirm our programme of works and are looking to start the project in May in Sandy Hill Road in Hale and on Bourley Road in Aldershot, subject to highways notices being agreed.
The work, which will be carried out in four sections, is expected to take around 12 months to complete in total.
We will provide further updates soon on the programme, with letters to be sent out to residents and businesses in the local areas affected.
January update
We will soon be carrying out trial holes within the A325 Farnborough Road to assess ground conditions and space for the new pipeline.
This work has been planned to take place over four nights from Monday, 15 January, commencing at 8pm and completing by 5.30am each day.
Temporary traffic lights will be in place to maintain the safety of the public and our workforce.
Due to the nature of this work, there may be some bright lights and noise from the use of equipment, but please be assured our team will do everything possible to minimise disruption to the community.
November update
Following on from our drop-in event at the Hale Community Centre in September, we have now submitted our planning applications for the project to Rushmoor and Waverley Borough Councils.
We are continuing our discussions with Surrey County Council over the likely impact on parking when work is due to take place in Sandy Hill Road.
Our intention is to carry out our work in small sections between various junctions along Sandy Hill Road, to allow for the ease of access for residents and to limit the number of parking spaces affected.
Discussions are also ongoing over the impact on buses in Upper Hale as we look to maintain a service for residents in the Sandy Hill Road estate.
Road closures and diversion routes
SANDY HILL ROAD:
Sandy Hill Road will be a rolling road closure, with a diversion in place via Upper Hale Road and Alma Lane.
The direction of travel for access will depend on where we are working at the time, with work starting in Sandy Hill Road from the junction with Upper Hale Road.
Initially, all residents in adjoining roads will need to use Alma Lane for access, with the proposed dates below for access to change from the Upper Hale Road direction.
Barrie Road – Saturday, 8 June
Blackheath Road – Tuesday, 18 June
Brougham Place – Friday, 28 June
Eton Place – Tuesday, 9 July
Lyall Place – Friday, 19 July
McDonald Road – Wednesday, 31 July
Sandford Road – Saturday, 10 August
Sturt Road – Wednesday, 21 August
Please note, these are all target dates and are subject to change, depending on the progress on site.
FARNBOROUGH ROAD:
The Farnborough Road closure will be on a small section of the A325 between Monday, 23 September and Friday, 27 September, with a diversion in place via the A323 (Wellington Avenue, High Street and Ash Road, A331 (Blackwater Valley Road) and Lynchford Road.
This map below shows the details of the road closure and diversion route.
All diversions have been agreed with Hampshire County Council highways, with signage to be put in place ahead of the works clearly signposting the route.
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