Agriculture: Reservoirs
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2026 to Question HL16697 on Agriculture: Reservoirs, what assessment she has made of whether the current rate of large raised reservoir construction is sufficient to meet future agricultural water demand.
Answered by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government recognises that improved agricultural water resilience, is essential. The Environment Agency's (EA) National Framework for Water Resources 2025 sets out the future water needs of key sectors, including agriculture, to inform long-term water resources planning.
The Government is supporting the development of new farm reservoirs. The EA supported Water Resources East to publish new Farm Reservoir Guidance. Local Resource Options studies are also enabling small groups of farmers and growers to identify local projects including irrigation reservoirs.
Government recently announced funding of up to £15m through a new Water Management Grant for on-farm reservoirs.
We're also making changes through the planning system to make it easier for farmers to build on-farm reservoirs through express support for domestic food production in the revised National Planning Policy Framework and by bringing forward the publication of revised planning practice guidance on these to September.
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