Subscribe to our Construction Newsfeed
UK Construction Directory
Search our 157,477 companies....

Construction News

18/02/2025

Farrans Begins Next Phase Of Work On £30m Water Project

Construction News Image
Farrans Construction has began works on a major £30m water infrastructure project that will benefit over 300,000 people across Essex.

This is the second phase of the work included in the investment by Essex & Suffolk Water, which is upgrading its Layer Water Treatment Works (WTW) in Layer de la Haye, to ensure a resilient supply of clean, clear and great tasting tap water.

The £6m first stage of the work has included creating a brand new 'sand yard' at the rear of the site, housing a new sand washing machine that replaces an older model that had been in place at the front of the WTW.

Sand washing ensures that the sand in filter beds – used as part of the process of clarifying the raw water during the treatment process – continues to deliver the best results.

With the first stage complete, Farrans will now deliver the next phase which comprises installation of a Mecana filter block at the inlet to the site.
-- Advertisement --
hss



This chemical free pre-treatment system will be built off-site, in the UK, to avoid disruption, prior to being delivered to the WTW and is anticipated to be installed by Summer 2026.

The plant will help to tackle impacts of climate change that can cause the raw water entering the site to be of a lower quality.

Raw water quality can be affected by such issues as heavy rain causing run-off from land into Abberton Reservoir and hot weather leading to algae growth.

With the relocation of the sandwasher to the back of the site, the new Mecana block will be positioned at the inlet, allowing it to filter the raw water and then send it through the rest of the treatment process powered by gravity, reducing the energy needed to produce the drinking water.

Kay Silver, Essex & Suffolk Water's Project Manager, said: "More than 300,000 customers receive their water from Layer Water Treatment Works, so this investment will help protect and enhance supplies to around a fifth of the county’s population."

"Climate change brings many challenges and can seriously impact the quality of raw water that we treat. So, we are doing something that has never been done on this scale in the UK as part of potable water treatment, with the installation of this filter block.

"It's also sustainable, providing a chemical-free initial process that then drives the following stages of treatment using gravity, further reducing energy use and cost.

"Additionally, replacing and relocating the sandwasher means we have reduced the potential for unnecessary noise from the site, which is great news for our neighbours."

Updates will be available throughout the project at www.eswcommunityportal.co.uk

Latest Construction News

10/07/2025
Vistry Group has agreed two major deals with housing provider Abri to enable the delivery of almost 200 affordable homes across Hampshire, marking a significant step forward in addressing local housing needs. In Funtley, near Fareham, Vistry has completed a simultaneous land acquisition and forward
10/07/2025
Caddick Construction has officially completed its first Midlands project with the handover of Mansion House, a six-storey residential development comprising 58 new apartments, to joint venture partners Urban Splash and Places for People. Located on the 43-acre Port Loop island alongside Birmingham
10/07/2025
Lovell has broken ground on a new residential development in Port Sunlight, set to transform a long-vacant brownfield industrial site into a thriving community of 115 high-quality homes. Located on Dock Road North, the development supports the local authority’s strategy to unlock underused land for
10/07/2025
Morgan Sindall Construction's Wales division has officially broken ground on a new state-of-the-art Additional Learning Needs (ALN) school in Clydach Vale, designed to be net zero carbon in operation. Commissioned by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, the £37 million school will provide Engl
10/07/2025
HG Construction has announced a £1.2 million investment in Dumarey Green Power's 'Revolution Battery' technology, following successful trials earlier this year aimed at decarbonising crane and hoist operations across its UK sites. The investment marks a significant step in HG Construction's drive t
10/07/2025
M Group has completed a major improvement project at Queenstown Road Station in south-west London, delivering long-awaited upgrades including a new rear entrance designed to ease access for daily commuters. Undertaken on behalf of developer Taylor Wimpey, the project involved significant engineerin
10/07/2025
Helical has appointed McLaren Construction as the main contractor for the £90 million transformation of Brettenham House, an iconic Art Deco building on London's north bank, into a state-of-the-art sustainable office and retail hub. Originally built in 1932 and located within the Savoy Conservation
10/07/2025
Tower Hamlets Council has completed 30 road resurfacing schemes across the borough over the past year, thanks to targeted investment and funding support from central government. The improvements aim to deliver a more resilient road network, reduce disruption, and lower carbon emissions. Part-fund
10/07/2025
Mace has been appointed by Pegasi to deliver the major transformation of Fresh Wharf, a prominent 1980s building located on the banks of the River Thames, into a cutting-edge, sustainability-driven workplace. Situated just minutes from Tower Bridge, the 11-storey structure will be transformed to of
10/07/2025
Morgan Sindall Construction has celebrated a key milestone at Abbeywood Community School with a steel signing ceremony marking the final structural installation of the school's new extension – completed ahead of schedule. Held on 27 June, the event brought together representatives from South Glouce
Lakeside HireAqua Direct LtdStuart CanvasEfco UK LtdLondon Sash Windows & Doors LtdSharper Utility MappingSteeltech  Sheds NIMulti-Hire Power Tools Ltd.Road Marking Services LtdGreCon Ltd - Measuring technology