Forest of Bowland tunnel plan for aqueduct renewal scheme

Plans for a significant new water tunnel system through the Forest of Bowland, impacting villages, roads, footpaths, and land across Lancashire, are under review by Ribble Valley councillors. United Utilities has submitted a comprehensive planning application to replace the aging Haweswater Aqueduct, originally constructed between the 1930s and 1950s, which supplies drinking water to over two million people. The proposed updates include earthworks, tunnel shafts, and the transport of up to 1.5 million tonnes of waste to Waddington Fell Quarry, with new infrastructure crossing the River Ribble and Hodder.

The Haweswater Aqueduct Replacement Scheme (HARP) will affect areas such as Marl Hill and Newton-in-Bowland, with concerns raised by local parishes about the impact of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on rural roads, traffic safety, and the environment. Questions have been posed regarding the management of waste-water, and potential disturbances from noise, light, and dust. United Utilities has engaged with district councils along the route to address these issues as part of the planning process. Read More