17 October 2011

A grass roof, the biggest of its kind in the country and one of the largest in Europe, is now complete on top of Southern Water’s new wastewater treatment works at Peacehaven, Sussex. Project Manager, Graham Sugrue, laid the final strip of turf, with the *4Delivery board as spectators.

Measuring almost 18,000 square metres – the size of four and a half football pitches – the grass-covered roof is designed to blend in with the natural beauty of the South Downs.

The grass, grown from a special mix of downland grass seeds, has been under cultivation for the past fifteen months in Cambridgeshire.

It will be a defining feature of Southern Water’s large £300million environmental improvement scheme that will bring cleaner seas to Sussex.

Once complete the wastewater treatment works will treat the 95 million litres a day of wastewater generated by the residents of Peacehaven, Telscombe Cliffs, Saltdean, Rottingdean, Roedean and Brighton and Hove to the latest EU standards.

Taking almost four years to construct and following nine years in planning, the project, which also includes underground tunnelling, the construction of a new sea outfall, two new pumping stations and construction on eleven sites, will be completed by March 2013.

Alan Faherty, Senior Engineer, said:  “The roof, designed to fit in with the local landscape will be “living” - it responds, it adapts, it evolves with the landscape”.
 
Along with the construction of a new wastewater treatment works at Lower Hoddern Farm, Peacehaven, 4Delivery is also delivering 11 kilometres of new sewer tunnel.

 

*4Delivery is a consortium comprising Veolia Water, Costain and MWH and is carrying out a programme of environmental improvement and water quality schemes for Southern Water.

 

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