Final consent for £300m Cumbria water pipeline
United Utilities has received the last of three planning approvals needed to progress with a £300m pipeline project across West Cumbria, linking Thirlmere reservoir to the rest of its regional network.
At the start of this year United Utilities submitted its planning application for 100km of new pipes to Allerdale Council, Copeland Council and the Lake District National Park Authority. Yesterday, Allerdale was the final council to grant the scheme consent.
Known as the Thirlmere Transfer West Cumbria Water Supplies Project, the scheme includes:
- A new 31.6km below-ground water pipe (aqueduct) between Thirlmere and Bridekirk to transport raw water
- Construction of a new water treatment works, north east of Bridekirk near Hags Wood with proposed pumping station
- Two service reservoirs – one at Moota Hill and another at High Leys
- Pumping stations at Harrot Hill and High Leys
- Network of pipes to help distribute treated water from the new water treatment works to Quarry Hill, Summergrove, Kelton Fell and Stainburn
- Refurbishment of existing water pipes
Contractors are in the process of being selected, and work is expected to start on site in March 2017, with completion scheduled for 2022.
The 100km pipeline will service around 150,000 people across the county.
