Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ wastewater scheme for Northumbrian Water Group wins prestigious pipeline industry Award
The WINEP Durham Transfers project was commended for its sustainable approach to design and construction
08/20/2025 NEWCASTLE, UK TSX, NYSE:STN
An innovative wastewater quality scheme for Northumbrian Water Group by joint venture Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ has taken home the Utility Pipeline Project Award at this year¡¯s Pipeline Industries Guild Awards. The awards celebrate the most influential people and projects within the global pipeline industry
The WINEP Durham Transfers project aims to improve wastewater quality in County Durham and create a resilient sewer network to support future catchment growth. Its main objective is to meet stringent, new environmental rules by reducing phosphorus levels in treated wastewater which is released into Blackdene Burn from the Pity Me and Plawsworth treatment works.
The multi-staged solution created for Northumbrian Water Group was commended by the judges for having sustainability and circularity in mind. The Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ scheme involved the installation and construction of more than three kilometres of new rising mains, two kilometres of gravity sewer, two new wastewater transfer stations, and a 120 metre-long modular pipe bridge, connecting Blackdene Burn and East Coast Main Line.
A circular approach
Re-use of material, repurposing of existing assets, and low-carbon operations, were all integrated into both the design and construction of the scheme. During construction, riddling buckets were used when excavating trenches. This produced trench arisings that were suitable for re-use as pipe bedding surrounds, significantly reducing the need to import new material to the site, resulting in less waste.
Stone used to form haul roads was also transported and re-used across different areas of the site, as well as other Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ schemes before ultimately being processed locally at Esh¡¯s Tursdale Recycling Centre.
Around three kilometres of pipework was installed using ¡®no-dig¡¯ techniques, minimising the volume of excavated material, as well as requirements for virgin materials to be imported. In total, over 1,000m3 of virgin materials were saved through these methods. The modular pipe bridge also saved 2,500 tonnes of operational carbon dioxide.
Sustainable designs
David Pratt, divisional director at Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½, commented: ¡°We¡¯re delighted to have been recognised by the wider pipeline industry for this scheme which will futureproof Northumbrian Water Group¡¯s wastewater networks, support increased housing developments in the region, and protect the natural environment. Our joint venture continues to pave the way in collaboration and sustainable design, bringing resilience to communities.¡±
Emma Steel, Client Service Director, at ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ added: ¡°Sustainability isn¡¯t just what we do, it¡¯s who we are, and this ethos feeds through to all our projects. We¡¯re proud this scheme is challenging conventional ways of working and our teams are being commended for their forward-thinking approach.¡±
Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ is a joint venture between Esh Construction and sustainable design and engineering firm, ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½. The partnership is delivering innovative schemes through Northumbrian Water¡¯s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Framework.
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About Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½?
Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ is a joint venture established in 2015 between Esh Construction, a leading North of England contractor, and ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering. The partnership was formed to deliver capital schemes through Northumbrian Water¡¯s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Framework, combining deep regional ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ with world-class engineering capabilities.
Together, Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ continues to deliver sustainable, high-quality infrastructure solutions across the North East as a Northumbrian Water supply partner. In June 2025, the joint venture received the Utility Pipeline Project Innovation Award from The Pipeline Industries Guild for its innovative work on Northumbrian Water¡¯s Durham Transfers project.
As part of the wider Esh Group, Esh-²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ benefits from the Group¡¯s robust infrastructure, collaborative culture, and commitment to innovation and quality. Esh Group was recognised in 2025 as one of the UK¡¯s Best Managed Companies by Deloitte and is proud to deliver an industry-leading social value programme through its ¡®Constructing Local¡¯ strategy, ensuring that its work leaves a lasting legacy in the communities it serves.
About ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½
²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ empowers clients, people, and communities to rise to the world¡¯s greatest challenges at a time when the world faces more unprecedented concerns than ever before.??
We are a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. ?Our professionals deliver the ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½, technology, and innovation communities need to manage aging infrastructure, demographic and population changes, the energy transition, and more. ?
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