Plans to build a 10km long pipeline in south Warwickshire have been handed a boost by district planners.

Severn Trent Water has been told it does not need to complete an 'environmental impact assessment' for the major project, with Warwick District Council (WDC) saying the scheme would only cause "temporary" disruption to the local area.

Plans show the water company wants to build the major pipeline from near Baddesley Clinton to its Hatton treatment works to help with a "taste and odour" problem identified in some local drinking water.

Once built it will take water from an existing main at the treatment centre to "improve the taste and odour of the drinking water" for the properties in the local area.

Severn Trent said the pipeline - which would be buried 1.2 metres below ground - has been backed by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), and there is a "regulatory commitment date it must be delivered by".

According to the DWI, the works need to be finished by the end of April 2026.

Severn Trent did not say how many properties are impacted by the problem - nor how frequently it is an issue.

"The main driver for the scheme is to provide a solution to address regulatory taste and odour failures at customers' taps within the Warwick Water Quality Zone," a report submitted to WDC said. 

"Many investigations have been carried out to identify the source of the issue including, but not limited to, the following: Raw borehole water quality investigations, borehole structure integrity assessment, water treatment work plant competency review, reviewing the operational issues and distribution network potential issues identification of the taste and odour influencing parameters."

The roite of the proposed pipeline to Hatton (image via planning application)

Various routes have been considered but the current link - which mainly cuts across fields - was chosen as the preferred option.

The pipeline will have an external diameter of 450mm and will be made of plastic. 

The route will cross seven public rights of way and bridleways.

The application explained: "The proposed route has also been shortened to reduce the associated potential impacts and disruption. 

"Furthermore, opting for the proposed route has avoided over 100m of open-cut pipe installation within the highway. 

"Previous routes were also discounted based on the location of existing utility mains/ cables."

A small kiosk will also be built at its start near Netherwood Lane.

Council planners decided an environmental impact assessment was not needed before the project can move forward.

A report said: "Once the proposed pipeline has been installed, the affected ground will be returned to the state which existed prior to the commencement of works. 

"Where vegetation removal is necessary, this would either be directly reinstated or replaced in the first appropriate planting season."

See the full plans here.