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Sewer Improvements at Wavertree Park

We’re committed to improving drainage across Merseyside and the North West

We do understand how the local community really values the park and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

The tank will hold storm water to reduce pressure on the sewer network during intense rainfall events, returning storm water back into the sewers for onward treatment once there is enough capacity in the network.

We’ve completed the first phase of work to carry out ground investigation activity. The next phase will involve setting up the working area ready for the tank construction activity to begin.

Our team will do all they can to reduce disruption for the local community and park users during the construction period.

During construction

All activity to construct the new underground storage tank, associated pipework, two control kiosks and two pressure relief columns will take place within a temporary and secure fenced area of the park. We’ll create a new entrance off Grant Avenue into the working area.

The temporary site compound area will provide site offices/team welfare facilities and storage areas for machinery and excavated materials.

On completion

The main construction activity is expected to finish by Spring/Summer 2028. The final reinstatement will be carried out by the end of 2028 in line with our planning application and Liverpool City Council Parks agreements.

Almost all of the field will be usable after the work is complete and it will look almost identical to how it looks now. Ground levels will not change and the grassed area will be reinstated over the area of the tank (with the exception of the access covers which will be flush with the ground level). This area will be open to the public.

The kiosks and pressure relief columns will be located near to the park fence within a small, permanently fenced area, so it will be as unobtrusive as possible. We will consider the impact of any visible structures, making them as sympathetic with the park as we can. The access off Grant Avenue will remain to provide a permanent point of access for future maintenance visits.

If you have any queries about our work, please get in touch. You can either call us on 0345 672 3723 quoting project number 80066793 or if you prefer you can also contact us via our social media channels and we’ll be happy to help.

Wavertree Park Q&A

Since the last resident and MP meeting, we have worked through the feedback and are considering it where we can. We do appreciate that residents have concerns and we are doing what we can to minimise the impact and we will continue to talk to you.

Design

  • The tank is approximately 29 metres in diameter (3 double decker buses) and 17 metres to the base from ground level. The excavation will be bigger than the internal dimensions allowing for the base and walls. The tank will hold 7 million litres of stormwater, over 3 Olympic swimming pools.

  • Whilst the positioning of the tank has been carefully selected, considering sewer locations, ground conditions and other design factors, following feedback from local residents the tank will be moved slightly further north. We will provide the details of any design changes on our website.

  • The park will be usable and open to the public once the work is complete. Ground levels will not change and the grassed area will be reinstated over the area of the tank (with the exception of the access covers with concrete surrounds which will be flush with the ground level).

    The kiosks and pressure relief columns will be located near to the park fence within a small, permanently fenced area, so it will be as unobtrusive as possible. There will also be a permanent grasscrete road, path and a turning area, allowing essential access for maintenance. We will consider the impact of any visible structures, making them as sympathetic with the park as we can.

  • We are continuing to talk to Liverpool City Council on managing the excavated material. An option to keep the excavated material on site to use for landscaping is being considered. Should this be the preferred option we will consult with all stakeholders, including the community.

  • The tank has to be close to the existing sewer network. Locations considered were Wavertree Park, Liverpool College playing fields and the Millenium Green off Penny Lane.

    Liverpool College was impractical as the main excavation would be too close to the railway line and would close Queens Drive at that location.

    The Millenium Green is too small to construct the storage tank.

    There are limited options where we can build storage tanks that will reduce the risk of flooding. Wavertree Park will remain open while we carry out the work, and the park will be pretty much back to normal when the work is done. We are extremely grateful to residents in understanding that the changes to their park will bring wider benefits to the local community.

  • We are working with the Council on the agreements required for us to undertake the work and will manage this project ensuring we are compliant with all relevant legislation.

    An easement will be agreed between United Utilities and Liverpool City Council, establishing a permanent right of access.

  • We have carried out desktop studies, ecological surveys, and reviewed historical information, all of which have not identified any features. We continue to be vigilant and should any features be identified we will mitigate any risks in line with the code of practice in the Water Act.

    Measures to be undertaken during construction activities to protect the area will include bunds around all generators and fuel bowsers, designated refuelling areas and the provision of spill kits throughout the site.

The new entrance and site traffic

  • We have been working with Liverpool City Council Highways team who have requested that we form a new entrance onto Grant Avenue. The location has been chosen with safety as the primary driver. It is sited opposite an existing junction to minimise impact as much as possible.

    We continue to work with Liverpool City Council to ensure we meet any safety measures, both during construction and following completion and re-instatement of the park.

  • During construction there will be vehicle movements in and out of our site compound. We appreciate that this is one of the residents’ main concerns so we are working hard to see how we can minimise vehicle movements and these plans are still developing.

    Assuming we remove all excavated materials from site, at the peak period of construction, there will be approximately 40 vehicle movements per day, with this peak period lasting approximately 3 months between April and June 2026. The vehicle movements will include tippers, concrete wagons and smaller vans. We are working with Liverpool City Council Road Safety Team to ensure we can put suitable plans in place.

    Upon completion of the project, planned maintenance on the tank will be less than 2 weeks per year, with other infrequent visits from UU operations team. The new access gate will only be used by United Utilities for this purpose.

    Maintenance vehicles will include small vans and very occasionally tankers.

Environmental/ Ecological

  • We have undertaken a Preliminary Ecological Assessment which has identified the potential for nesting birds and roosting bats.

    We need to finalise the design proposals and then undertake further surveys as required, following advice from a suitably licenced ecologist.

    We will adopt the recommended mitigation as advised by the licenced ecologist, and we will comply with all relevant ecological legislation.

Disruption

  • Modern machinery and techniques will be used to minimise noise during construction, and noise levels will be strictly monitored for the duration of our work. Typical working hours will be 8am – 6pm Monday - Friday.

    Upon completion of the tank, we do not anticipate that there will be any noticeable noise. The tank will only operate during extreme weather events, with the main mechanical equipment located at the bottom of the tank meaning it will not create any noise impact.

  • There may be some vibration resulting from construction, but this should not impact beyond the site boundary. A vibration monitoring plan will be in place with measures to intervene if needed.

    If residents within a specified area are concerned about the impact of the work on their property, we will offer independent condition surveys as a precaution and to provide further reassurance in advance of the works. This is part of our normal customer process for all our projects.

Community Benefit

  • We will establish a group to determine how to manage community benefit in the park. The group will include Liverpool City Council Parks and Green Space Team, Councillors, ‘Friends’ of Wavertree Park from the community and United Utilities.

Contacting Us

  • wavertree feedback QRWe have established a dedicated Wavertree Park feedback form where residents and the community can contact United Utilities with any questions or issues. This can be accessed at unitedutilities.com/wavertree-park-feedback or by scanning the QR code.

    We have set up a dedicated page on the website to share our plans and other relevant information including this Q&A and our information boards. We will also communicate future engagement events.