Elsham to Lincoln pipeline

We’re building a new 52km water pipeline between Elsham, in North Lincolnshire, and Lincoln. 

It is the most northerly section of our new drinking water network, which will increase reliability and reduce the number of homes and businesses in the East of England, which currently rely on a single source of water.

We also plan to construct two new pumping stations, at Elsham and Welton. 

Click here to see a zoomable map showing the route of the pipeline.     

The pipeline is one part of an interconnected water network across the region, as outlined in our Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP). 

What has been done already?   

We submitted an EIA scoping report - asking the local authorities what information should be included within our ES - in October 2021. We then submitted a planning application and an Environmental Statement (ES) to the councils along the route (North Lincolnshire Council, City of Lincoln Council, West Lindsey District Council and North Kesteven District Council) in the summer of 2022.  

The ES is part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, which is used to help protect the environment by providing local planning authorities with a detailed evaluation of what effects the pipeline will have on the environment.   
All four councils have now given us permission to start our work. 
 

What is happening now?  
Our team have started the enabling phase on two out of three sections across the Elsham to Lincoln pipeline- this includes establishing the working width, installing access points and flume crossings, pre-construction drainage and then laying the pipes. 

We are currently creating compounds where staff and equipment will be based. The largest of our compounds is near Glentham, which is now fully in operation and a great central hub for local workers.  Click here to see our compound locations on a map. 

Our work

We will work hard to keep the impact on communities along the route, and the environment, to a minimum, liaising with various communities where appropriate to keep people informed of any upcoming disruptions.
 
Construction work will follow good industry practice using tried and tested techniques. The most commonly used method to lay a pipe is the use of open cut trenches. Where we particularly need to minimise disruption, such as by main roads, rivers, significant drainage and water ditches and railways, we will use trenchless techniques. 

If you would like to contact us about the pipeline, or have any questions or queries about our planned work, please email strategicpipelines@anglianwater.co.uk. 

Traffic Management

As with any construction project of this scale, there will be temporary road closures in some areas and a certain amount of disruption. We intend to control this as best as we can by communicating with residents in advance and having timed deliveries and parking on-site for staff and visitors.  Please be assured that the project team will be doing all they can to minimise any disruption to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)