Plans to upgrade Lake District wastewater treatment works

The application was registered by the Lake District National Park Authority on May 26, 2026 and pertains to the Near Sawrey Wastewater Treatment Works in Ambleside run by United Utilities.

Plans submitted included a proposal to install wastewater treatment infrastructure, a blower kiosk, motor control centre kiosk, FujiClean units, split chamber and an access road with associated works.

Situated on land near Esthwaite Farm Cottages, the plans are part of the Windermere Programme which United Utilities has committed to delivering between April 2025 and March 2030.

The intention is to use funding from the multi-million pound programme to enhance existing treatment works and associated infrastructure to "treat wastewater to even higher standards across Windermere, reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the lake."

There has been concern in recent years over the amount of pollution across Windermere (Image: Save Windermere)

At Near Sawrey, the scheme proposed involves removing some existing treatment processes and replacing them with modern processes, including buried FujiClean units and a FloCell.

These are used to "treat the effluent to the required discharge consent. "

The planning, design and access statement also states that "a building to house the electrical control panels and a generator to provide a backup power supply in the event of a mains power outage" will be needed on the site.

The scheme has so far been supported by local people who United Utilities say have "understood the need for the proposed improvements."

United Utilities propose to install a motor control centre kiosk onsite, which would be used to house an "electrical control panel which will power and control new assets in the detention tanks."

A blower kiosk is also proposed, which is an "above-ground enclosure designed to house aeration bloweres and associated mechanical and electrical equipment required for the biological treatment process."

FujiClean units are proposed for installation underground and integrate "multiple stages of the treatment process within an single unit, thereby reducing the spatial footprint compared to traditional treatment infrastructure."

An access road is also proposed to allow vehicles into the development area laid with stones "to reflect a functional and low-impact approach within the rural setting."

The planning, design and access statement notes that the plans have been designed to combine "functionality, environmental sensitivity, and aesthetic integration to create a development that adds long-term value to the area.

"The proposals enhance operational capabilities while maintaining harmony with the surrounding landscape, ensuring that they are safe, sustainable, and sympathetic to the local character.

They add: "The thoughtful design choices address key challenges, while minimising impacts on residents and the environment."

The plans are intended to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Windermere (Image: Brian McGrevey)

If approved, materials for the upgrades could be delivered to the site as early as October 2026.

An Ecological Impact Assessment found that the site "is located within a sensitive ecological setting," with measures being put forward to protect ecological interests "while delivering meaningful long-term environmental improvements."

United Utilities conclude that "the scheme will significantly reduce untreated discharges into the environment, leading to cleaner rivers and lakes, while directly addressing the nutrient enrichment of Esthwaite Water, the principal conservation concern identified.

"This positions the project as a positive step towards sustainable water management, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance within one of the most sensitive catchments in the Lake District National Park.

A decision on the application is yet to be shared by the Lake District National Park Authority.