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Nicholls
Nicholls Water drilling rig at sunset
111+ projects in Hampshire

Water Boreholes & Ground Source Heat Pumps in Hampshire

Over 111 projects completed across Hampshire. Free site assessments and no-obligation estimates.

Hampshire is our third most active county with 111 projects completed. The productive chalk aquifer that runs across much of the county offers some of the best conditions for water boreholes in the South East. We work regularly around Winchester, Petersfield, Alton and across the New Forest, delivering water supply and renewable heating solutions.

Services available in Hampshire

Full range of water, ground source and licensing services — delivered by our in-house team.

Water Boreholes

Private water supply across Hampshire's productive chalk aquifer.

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Ground Source Heat Pumps

Excellent GSHP potential in Hampshire's chalk geology.

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Deep Bore Soakaways

Drainage solutions for Hampshire properties.

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Servicing & Maintenance

Ongoing system support across Hampshire.

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Water Licensing

EA abstraction licences for Hampshire sites.

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Local geology in Hampshire

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Hampshire benefits from the productive chalk aquifer across much of the county, offering generally good yields and water quality. The Petersfield and Alton areas sit on Upper Greensand and chalk, typically reaching water at 30-60m. The New Forest geology is more complex with Tertiary clays and gravels overlying chalk. Winchester and the Test Valley have excellent chalk aquifer conditions — ideal for both water supply and open-loop GSHP systems.

Every site is different. A desk-based geological assessment is always the starting point for any project.

Our projects in Hampshire

4,000+ boreholes drilled across the UK

Our interactive project map loads when it's ready. In the meantime, here's where we've been working — across West Sussex (227 projects), Surrey (196), Hampshire (111), East Sussex (87), Kent (70) and across the wider South of England, including Wiltshire and Dorset.

Water boreholes · Ground source heat pumps · Deep bore soakaways · Over 1,500 completed projects since 2003.

Case studies in Hampshire

A selection of projects we've completed across Hampshire.

25kW GSHP Retrofit with BUS Grant, Hampshire
Closed-loop GSHPResidential

25kW GSHP Retrofit with BUS Grant, Hampshire

The Nicholls in-house design team assessed the property and undertook all the necessary heat loss calculations.

GSHP for Residential Property in Hampshire
Closed-loop GSHPResidential

GSHP for Residential Property in Hampshire

Nicholls designed and installed a closed-loop GSHP system for a residential property in Hampshire. The project included a full heat loss assessment, system design, borehole drilling and complete in...

12kW GSHP Eco House, New Forest
Closed-loop GSHPResidential

12kW GSHP Eco House, New Forest

Nicholls designed and installed a 12kW closed-loop GSHP system for an eco house in the New Forest. The system was designed to complement the high-performance building envelope, delivering efficient...

Ground Source Heat Pump in Hampshire
Closed-loop GSHPResidential

Ground Source Heat Pump in Hampshire

Nicholls designed and installed a closed-loop GSHP system for a residential property in Hampshire. The project included full system design, borehole drilling, installation and commissioning. A BUS ...

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Areas we cover in Hampshire

We cover all of Hampshire including:

WinchesterPetersfieldAltonBasingstokeAndoverLissNew ForestLymington

Local landing pages

Detailed pages for towns we work in across Hampshire:

WinchesterBasingstoke

Not sure if we cover your area? Complete our enquiry form and we'll confirm.

Other areas we cover

West Sussex (227)Surrey (196)East Sussex (87)Kent (70)Buckinghamshire (39)Essex (38)Hertfordshire (28)London (80)Oxfordshire (18)Wiltshire (12)Suffolk (8)Cornwall (3)Somerset (4)

Common questions about Hampshire

Quick answers to the questions we hear most often from Hampshire residential, commercial and agricultural clients.

How deep does a borehole need to be in Hampshire?
Most of Hampshire sits on the productive Upper Chalk aquifer — water boreholes typically reach productive groundwater at 30-60m, with reliable yields and excellent natural water quality. The New Forest geology is more complex (Tertiary clays and gravels overlying chalk), often requiring 70-110m. The Petersfield and Alton area sits on Upper Greensand and chalk. We assess geology and likely depth per site using BGS data and our 111+ Hampshire project records.
What does sinking a borehole in Hampshire cost?
Residential boreholes in Hampshire typically cost £10,000-£18,000 — chalk geology generally drills more straightforwardly than clay-heavy counties, keeping costs predictable. Commercial sites £20,000-£50,000+ depending on volume and treatment. Hampshire's water quality is generally excellent so treatment is usually limited to UV disinfection. We provide a fixed written estimate after a free site assessment.
Are you an MCS heat pump installer in Hampshire?
Yes. We're MCS-certified for GSHP and have completed many installations across Hampshire, with strong coverage around Winchester, Petersfield, the Test Valley and the New Forest. Hampshire chalk is exceptionally well-suited to open-loop GSHP — drawing 10-12°C groundwater year-round delivers a typical system COP of 4.5. The BUS grant (£9,000 oil/LPG/electric, £7,500 mains gas) is deducted from your installation cost up front.
Will a ground source heat pump work on my Hampshire property?
Almost certainly — Hampshire's chalk geology is among the best in England for GSHP. Closed-loop systems work everywhere; open-loop is particularly efficient on chalk-area properties (Winchester, Andover, Alton). Our compact rigs fit through 5ft access gaps so even smaller gardens are workable.
Do I need an Environment Agency licence for a private water supply in Hampshire?
Only if you'll abstract more than 20m³/day — most domestic and small commercial sites don't need a licence. Larger sites do, and our in-house Licensing & Consulting team handles the full application. Hampshire is within the EA's water-stressed designation, so larger commercial abstractions get particular scrutiny — having a specialist on the application improves the outcome.
What about water quality from a Hampshire chalk borehole?
Chalk-derived groundwater is among the highest natural-quality drinking water in the UK — naturally filtered through the rock, low in iron and manganese, slightly alkaline (good for plumbing). Most Hampshire boreholes only need UV disinfection for potable use. New Forest geology can require iron treatment; we test every borehole on commissioning and recommend appropriate treatment.

Ready to discuss your Hampshire project?

Request a free, no-obligation site assessment. We'll review your geology, assess your needs and provide an accurate written estimate.

Request a Site Assessment