Two council grants help Chorq Water and Foundry Farm take major steps forward
A family‑run Anna Valley business has taken two important steps to bring a new premium spring water venture to market, thanks to support from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and the council’s Rural Business and Community Enterprise Fund.
Foundry Farm in Anna Valley, home to Chorq Water, has received a £20,000 REPF grant to surface its goods yard and parking area, and a further £10,000 Rural Business and Community Enterprise Fund grant to purchase a specialist carbonator needed to complete its bottling line. Both grants are part of wider plans to modernise the site and secure the future of the long‑established farm.
Four generations of the Diplock family have been in the farming business and Foundry Farm is historically known for its watercress beds fed by natural springs. However, the landowners needed to restore and repurpose the site to make it sustainable for the long term. Alongside bringing watercress growing back into production this year, they are launching Chorq Water – a high‑quality still and sparkling spring water range, bottled at source.
Chorq Water captures natural spring water that has been filtered for more than 150 years through a 400‑metre deep chalk aquifer. The business has already secured interest from high‑end hospitality venues in London, with founder Murray Diplock, a qualified water sommelier, showcasing the water’s distinctive minerality and premium packaging. The ultra‑premium bottles are pressurised and sealed with champagne‑style corks, with both still and carbonated water options.
The £20,000 REPF grant has enabled the farm to replace its uneven, gravel yard with a new all‑weather surface suitable for commercial vehicles to be compliant with food production standards. This was a key step in allowing the business to launch.
The £10,000 Rural Enterprise Fund grant has funded the carbonator needed to produce sparkling water with controlled carbonation levels. This allows Chorq to offer both still and sparkling products and doubles its planned product range.
Murray Diplock said: “This support has helped us take two major steps towards launching Chorq. The new yard means vehicles can access the site safely all year round, and the carbonator lets us complete the product range that customers have been asking for. We’re about to start bottling, and we’re excited about to continue watercress growing and also bringing spring water production to the farm.”
Climate Emergency and Countryside portfolio holder, Councillor Alison Johnston said: “Foundry Farm is a great example of how rural businesses can adapt and grow with the right support. The Diplock family have combined their heritage with a modern, high‑quality product that has real potential in the hospitality market. These grants are helping to unlock that opportunity, while also supporting local jobs and rural enterprise in Test Valley.”
The UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that provides capital funding for rural business and rural communities. TVBC received over £150k for 2025-26 which is being distributed between businesses and community organisations across the rural areas of our borough to help develop our rural economy. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
The Rural Business and Community Enterprise Fund supports rural businesses that are of wider benefit to the rural economy, and community or charitable organisations that provide a commercial service. It offers small grants to promote economic prosperity and increase the sustainability of Test Valley’s rural communities. For more information, visit Rural Business and Community Enterprise Fund | Test Valley Borough Council