Anglian Water is set to have boots on the ground for a substantial upgrade programme to replace 18 kilometres of water pipes in Gedney Hill, ensuring that water supplies are safe and reliable for decades to come. To carry out this work safely, the water company will need to make some road closures, starting with Langary Gate Road in two phases, with the first from 27 April until 5 June.

The East of England is the driest part of the country, and also one of the fastest growing, with more than 700,000 new residents expected in the next 20 years. The water company already sends nearly a billion of litres of clean and healthy drinking water to its customers each and every day. New infrastructure like this is needed to make sure there’s enough water to go round for the future.

Providing everything goes smoothly, the £4.2 million upgrade will be completed by Spring next year.

While Anglian Water completes this essential work, customers’ water and sewerage services shouldn’t be affected, and if the water company does need to switch off the water supply for a short time, advance warning will be given.

Ashton Carradine, Customer Experience Specialist for the project, said: “We operate in the driest region of the country, but the East of England is also one of the fastest growing. As part of our Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), this project will help make sure we can keep taps running and toilets flushing for residents in and around Gedney Hill for years to come.   

“To do this work safely, our teams will need to work in and around local roads. Langary Gate Road will be closed in two phases – phase one from 27 April to 5 June, and phase two from 8 June to 7 September. Traffic lights will be in place on Mill Lane from 3 August to 11 September, while North Road will be closed from 3 August to 1 September and West Drove South will be closed from 14 September until 9 October. We thank residents for their patience while we carry out this substantial upgrade.”

The WRMP, published every five years, outlines how Anglian Water manages current and future water needs across the region. Without such proactive planning and investment, there will simply not be enough water to supply customers in the East of England.  

This work follows the driest spring and summer since 1976, with the warmest summer on record for the UK. This meant the majority of Anglian Water’s water resources were at low levels heading into the 2025/26 winter. Fortunately, due to several wet months and careful management, the company has been able to capture and store more rainfall, and most sources are now back to normal levels. Going into the warmer and drier months of the year, Anglian Water teams are continuing to work round the clock to fix pipes, upgrade systems and secure more water for the future. Anglian Water is also encouraging customers to be water-wise ahead of the warmer months, to keep supplies readily available for the region.

From taking shorter showers to putting a full load in your washing machine (saving up to 10 litres of water) little steps can really make a difference. For more water-saving tips, read more.  

Anglian Water’s networks are getting the biggest upgrade of their time. With a plan worth over £11 billion, the water company is building for better for the community and environment to keep taps flowing and toilets flushing now and for generations to come. Read more here.

This work is being completed by Anglian Water’s Integrated Maintenance, Repair and Developer Services (IMRDS) which tackles a wide range of challenges across our network. From using smart meters to monitor water usage to replacing old pipes and connecting new homes and developments, the IMRDS Alliance supports growth across the region and protects water resources for future generations. You can find out more information here.

Traffic management will be in place for some parts of this work, which can be found below:

More information about the work in Gedney Hill can be found here.