Driving Sustainability and Efficiency: Severn Trent’s New 16km Pipeline Project
We have been working with Severn Trent to construct a new 16km pipeline that will link the Derwent Valley Aqueduct to the Strelley and Redhill Reservoirs. This new pipeline will boost the resilience of the network through providing up to an extra 25 million litres of water per day to the area and supplying 180,000 Severn Trent customers across North Nottinghamshire.
How Avove’s Innovative Approach Significantly Reduced Carbon and Costs in North Nottinghamshire
We have been working with Severn Trent to construct a new 16km pipeline that will link the Derwent Valley Aqueduct to the Strelley and Redhill Reservoirs. This new pipeline will boost the resilience of the network through providing up to an extra 25 million litres of water per day to the area and supplying 180,000 Severn Trent customers across North Nottinghamshire.
Due to the size and nature of the project, there were many considerations and challenges to traverse in order to maximise the value offered to our client and their customers. Through the power of innovation and synergy created between multiple Avove teams working together on the project, these challenges were successfully managed resulting in cost savings, carbon reduction and the delivery of the project running ahead of schedule.
The challenge
In order to deliver the pipeline, there were many key factors to consider including completing the project to strict deadlines and within budgets, despite unavoidable delays with procurement of supplies from overseas.
As well as these key project management factors, there were also environmental considerations involved within the construction of this pipeline, such as:
- Avoiding the disturbance of local wildlife
- The presence of Waxcap mushrooms in the area, which are a protected species
- Minimising disruption to the general public
- The ecological risk of Japanese Knotweed in the area
- Ensuring the project was carried out sustainably
The approach
The goal was to incorporate innovation and value engineering to propose an alternative approach that reduced the costs of the Severn Trent pipeline project, whilst delivering large carbon savings and maintaining the performance and integrity of the main.
To deliver the project in a time and cost-efficient manner, we introduced an Early Contractor Engagement phase to review the initial outline design of the project. From this, we were able to identify areas where we could optimise our processes to reduce both costs and the time it took to deliver the project.
- Early Procurement Strategy: we implemented an early procurement strategy, securing 6km of pipe and fittings before the project began and arranged for the phased delivery of the additional 10km throughout the project
- Competitive Tenders: by leveraging a series of competitive tenders, we unlocked significant buying gains, ensuring cost-effectiveness for Severn Trent
- Enabling Works: the ECE phase was expanded to include preparatory work, with mobilisation and site enabling completed before Christmas 2023 – this early start set the stage for a streamlined project timeline
- Integrated Teamwork: the team assigned to this project collaborated effectively with our vegetation management team to effectively and sustainably manage all clearance activities
- Strategic Partnership: we successfully onboarded a new supplier, Waitings Ltd, who demonstrated the ability to deliver complex projects with tight deadlines
- Innovative Crossing Solutions: at critical crossing points, such as highways and railways, we proposed reducing pipe sizes, leading to smaller tunnel requirements, further reducing carbon emissions and construction costs
The solution
The comprehensive review and collaborative efforts during the ECE (Early Contractor Engagement) phase allowed us to devise a solution that not only met the project’s objectives, but exceeded them.
- Optimised Design: we proposed a redesign that reduced the pipeline size, which lowered material costs and environmental impact without compromising the pipeline’s performance
- Value-driven Procurement: by initiating early procurement, we secured materials at competitive rates, optimising the project’s budget and ensuring timely availability of resources
- Pipe Innovation: by reducing pipe sizes at critical crossings, we minimised the need for large tunnels, leading to significant cost savings and reduced carbon emissions
- Powerful Collaboration: the synergy between our design, ecology, customer and vegetation management teams ensured efficient management of the project timeline
- Accelerated Project Process: the team successfully installed the pipeline ahead of schedule, a significant achievement in the face of challenging weather and environmental factors
- Land Access Achievement: the project team successfully overturned an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decision through the Secretary of State, demonstrating how we can successfully complete projects, whilst still fulfilling our commitment to sustainability and preventing disruption to the environment.
Benefits
The power of our team coupled with our expert knowledge and innovative approach offered a range of benefits, including improved sustainability, reduced costs and more.
Cost-savings
Our approach resulted in £8 million in cost savings, making the project more cost-effective for Severn Trent.
Carbon Reduction
The optimisations in pipe size, fittings and tunnel dimensions led to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions.
Improved Efficiency
The early procurement and integrated management strategies streamlined the project timeline, allowing for quicker delivery without compromising quality.
Sustainable Infrastructure
The project’s design maintained the performance and integrity of the pipeline, whilst reducing its environmental impact.
The results
This project demonstrates how early management, expert planning, innovative processes and a sustainable focus can lead to substantial benefits for both the client and the environment. Thanks to the integrated partnership of our teams and suppliers, our sustainable approach and our innovative design proposal, we delivered over £8 million in cost savings.
Additionally, the project achieved significant reductions in carbon emissions, all whilst maintaining the performance and integrity of the pipeline. As we continue to work with Severn Trent to complete the remaining pipeline in this project, we will continue to demonstrate the power of innovative thinking, collaborative teamwork, a commitment to sustainability and expert planning.