We planned the water before the homes.

A reservoir, and a lake

Britain hasn't completed a major reservoir in over 30 years. At the centre of Forest City's plan is a new one near Great Bradley: 1,600 acres of open water, filled from winter high flows over three to four years, holding around 52 million cubic metres.

It's the city's primary water source. It's also the city's lake. Swimming, sailing, a shoreline for the whole city, and new wetland habitat around its edges. Think of the lakes at the heart of Zurich or Annecy. Cities are better with water in them.

Where every litre comes from

Our Water Expert Working Group has drafted a full supply plan for a city of one million, tested against the driest scenarios. The Great Bradley reservoir provides the largest share. Pipeline extensions connect Forest City into the strategic water grid, including Anglian Water's new Cambridge to Rede pipeline. A state of the art advanced treatment centre recycles wastewater into potable and non-potable water for industry and irrigation.

Together these could supply more than the city's projected peak demand, with headroom of around 40% on a normal day before any restrictions would ever be considered.

Using less in the first place

Forest City homes are designed for highly efficient water use. Through efficient fixtures, water reuse and smart metering and SUD schemes as standard. It's far easier to build in efficiency from day one than to retrofit it into Victorian infrastructure.

What it costs, and who pays

The full water programme is costed at around £4 billion, benchmarked against recent UK schemes. It's funded by the development itself, from the value the city creates. Not by water bill payers in the region, and not by the taxpayer.

And the region gains. East Anglia needs new water infrastructure whether or not a single home is built. Forest City is a way to actually deliver it without central government subsidy.