Severn Trent has appointed the BNM Alliance to carry out work on its multi-million pound investment to help protect homes in Newark from sewer flooding, and make sure the town has a reliable water supply for many decades to come.

The BNM Alliance comprising NMCNomenca and Barhale plc, will deliver the three year, £60 million project, to replace more than 20 kilometres of pipes, which will include a 2.8 metre diameter tunnel travelling beneath Newark’s streets. Severn Trent’s programme manager Tim Sawyer explains just how vital the work is for homes and businesses in the town:

“Newark is expanding rapidly and this is putting pressure on our ageing infrastructure. The existing water and sewer pipes in Newark have been serving the community for many years, but they are simply no longer able to cope with the extra demands being placed on them.

“The result is an increased risk of interruptions to our customer’s water supply and, more worryingly, an unacceptable increase in the number of sewer flooding incidents. Sewer flooding is one of the worst things that can happen to our customers and we know that there are around 400 properties currently at risk of sewer flooding in the Newark area. This is not acceptable – and that’s why we have to do something about it.”

Severn Trent understands that a project on this scale will mean some inevitable disruption, but they will be doing all they can to keep it to a minimum. As Tim explains:

“We’ve already done lots of work to minimise the impact of our project across the town, consulting with community leaders in Newark who have helped us develop our plans.  Where we can, we will be using the tunnelling machines to replace some of our sewers to reduce the need to dig up large sections of road, minimising the impact on local residents, businesses and traffic.”

Commenting on the partnership with Severn Trent, Stuart Proud, managing director of NMCNomenca, a division of North Midland Construction PLC, added: “I am absolutely delighted that we are undertaking such an important scheme for our long-standing client Severn Trent. We both recognise how crucial this work is for the people of Newark and we will be working together to make sure we engage with the community every step of the way.”

Dennis Curran, Chairman of Barhale plc further comments: “We are delighted to be part of the team to deliver such a strategically important scheme for Severn Trent Water improving the water and waste water infrastructure in Newark. This scheme will again give rise to engagement with the local community allowing a legacy to be left in Newark and the surrounding areas for many years to come.”

The work, which will start later this year, will include a 2.8 metre diameter tunnel from Crankley Point sewage treatment works to the southern end of Millgate and a 1.5 metre diameter tunnel under Queens Road and Sleaford Road.