26 January 2011

Planning permission for a £3.5million scheme to improve underground reservoirs at Coundon in Coventry was given the go-ahead on 6 January 2011 by Coventry City Council.

Costain is the principal contractor carrying out the improvements, which will ensure the long-term security of drinking water to around 10,000 Severn Trent Water customers.

The scheme will involve the demolition of the three existing reservoirs and the construction of a single new reservoir on the same site. The improvements are expected to take 12 months to complete.

Costain was actively involved with the planning process, carrying out letter drops to more than 400 households in the area, organising and hosting a public consultation event attended by around 70 local residents, meeting with the local residents’ association and ongoing consultation with around 90 allotment holders, some of whom will be directly affected by the construction works.

Costain Framework Director, Bill Lomas, said: ‘By proactively engaging with the public during the planning process we were able to allay many people’s concerns about construction activities and ensure they had every opportunity to comment on the plans as part of the planning process. Through good communication and information we helped to minimise the risk of objections to the planning application, which could have led to a far lengthier planning process.’

‘Our early community engagement has led to highly positive relationships with local people and we look forward to working closely with them over the coming year as the scheme develops.’

Derek James, Asset Creation Area Manager at Severn Trent Water, added: ‘Severn Trent Water is undertaking essential maintenance works at Coundon Reservoir as part of an ongoing programme of capital investment in its water supply and distribution system. Severn Trent Water and our supply chain partner, Costain, are committed to delivering excellence in customer and community care.

‘The excellent work undertaken to date engaging with the local community will be continued during the construction phase of the project to ensure the customer and the local community are at the heart of thinking when planning and undertaking construction works at Coundon Reservoir.’

 

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