Enhancing safety and building resilience to an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB)

At a Glance

  • 3,700

    Trees Planted

  • 35K

    m3 Material

Location
County Durham, England
Offices
Client
  • Northumbrian Water Group
Partners
  • Turner and Townsend
  • Esh-Stantec
  • BSG Ecology

Grassholme Reservoir Embankment Works

Grassholme Reservoir in County Durham is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). It’s also within proximity of numerous sites of specific scientific interest (SSSI), special areas of conservation (SAC), and special protection areas (SPA). Originally completed in 1914, the reservoir supplies raw water to Lartington Water Treatment works.

When the most recent statutory inspection of the reservoir found the northern embankment in need of stabilizing, Northumbrian Water appointed Esh-Stantec to reconstruct it and relocate the adjacent watercourse running along its toe. While successfully addressing the instability risks of the embankment for safety, we also looked to the area’s biodiversity. Throughout the project, we took special care and consideration to protect an ancient semi-natural woodland. We translocated approximately 100 trees from the woodland, planted a further 3,700 trees, and diverted 325 metres (1,066 feet) of the Carl Beck watercourse.

These works provided water supply resilience and improved biodiversity, while maintaining the sensitive landscape setting.

At a Glance

  • 3,700

    Trees Planted

  • 35K

    m3 Material

Location
County Durham, England
Offices
Client
  • Northumbrian Water Group
Partners
  • Turner and Townsend
  • Esh-Stantec
  • BSG Ecology

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