In the final weeks of 2025, as local communities awaited detailed feedback from Thames Water’s recent statutory consultation, the Save Our Lands and River (SOLAR) campaign shifted its focus to the highest levels of government.
The campaign’s efforts are now centered on ensuring DEFRA are fully appraised of the risks and public opposition surrounding the Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) scheme. As a project of national significance, the ultimate decision to grant a Development Consent Order (DCO), the “green light” for construction, sits directly with DEFRA and the Secretary of State.
The SOLAR Challenge: An “Unequivocal Message”
In a detailed letter sent to the Parliamentary Under Secretary on November 18, 2025, SOLAR founder Ian McNuff highlighted the “unprecedented and overwhelming” rejection of the scheme during the public consultation phase. Key points raised by SOLAR include:
Public Rejection: The consultation received an “astounding” 14,735 responses, with campaign feedback suggesting over 99% of respondents rejected the proposal.
Low Utility for High Cost: The scheme carries a £1 billion price tag yet is expected to operate for only six weeks a year.
Environmental Concerns: SOLAR challenged the standard of water treatment, noting it falls below the “Quaternary Treatment” standards currently targeted across Europe.
Superior Alternatives: The letter pointed to projects like the SESRO (Abingdon) reservoir, which would provide 30 times the volume of water without discharging treated sewage into the Thames.
The Government Response
In her reply dated December 11, 2025, Emma Hardy MP acknowledged the concerns but maintained that the TDRA remains part of a “best value” regional plan required to meet future demand sustainably. She emphasized that the project must still pass rigorous hurdles, including:
Regulatory Scrutiny: Any discharge will require a permit from the Environment Agency, which will set strict water quality conditions.
The DCO Process: Thames Water must demonstrate how they have consulted with the community and how that feedback has influenced the design before submitting their application in 2026
Looking forward
SOLAR remains committed to ensuring that DEFRA hears the community’s voice directly, particularly in light of national reports (such as the Cunliffe report) calling for urgent improvements in UK water quality. The campaign continues to urge the Ministers to visit Teddington to see first hand why the scheme is viewed by locals as a “slow-moving car crash
You can read SOLAR’s letter here and the reply from Emma Reynolds MP here