Barhale Secures £9.5m Severn Trent Contract to Boost Stormwater Capacity in Staffordshire

Barhale has been appointed by Severn Trent Water to deliver a major infrastructure project aimed at reducing stormwater overflows and improving water quality in Staffordshire.

The £9.5 million scheme at Silverdale, near Stoke-on-Trent, forms part of a wider investment programme designed to strengthen the wastewater network and increase its resilience during periods of intense rainfall.

At the heart of the project will be the construction of a large underground stormwater storage facility capable of holding an additional 770 cubic metres of water. The structure will be built within a specialist cofferdam and extend approximately 16 metres below ground level, helping to manage excess flows that can place pressure on the sewer network during storms.

Engineers will also undertake significant upgrades to existing pumping infrastructure, including improvements to the current pumping station and the construction of a new facility to increase operational capacity.

Alongside the civil engineering works, Barhale will install a range of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation systems to support the operation of the upgraded network.

A new access route to the site will also be created as part of the project, with highway improvements being delivered in partnership with local authorities under a Section 278 agreement.

The Silverdale scheme is one of several projects being rolled out across Stoke-on-Trent as part of Severn Trent's wider programme to improve wastewater performance and reduce the frequency of combined sewer overflows.

Similar investments are currently planned at Etruria Vale and Lower Oxford Road, where additional storage infrastructure is being introduced to better manage stormwater flows and protect local watercourses.

The works fall under Severn Trent's Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), which focuses on improving environmental performance, reducing pollution risks and supporting healthier rivers and streams across the region.

Once complete, the upgrades are expected to provide greater capacity during heavy rainfall events, helping to minimise intermittent discharges and improve the resilience of the local wastewater network for years to come.