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An aerial view of a construction site with heavy machinery and vehicles working on a dirt road. The area is surrounded by green fields and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
Case Studies

How we planned, managed and supported the Severn Ham mains renewal project on behalf of Severn Trent Water Ltd

17 July, 2025

At a glance

1.1km of twin 900mm potable water mains under the Severn Ham needed replacing to prevent supply interruptions and leakage

The Severn Ham is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), home to a variety of rare ground-nesting bird and plant species, and is one of the few traditionally managed Ham meadows left in the UK, so environmental conservation was front and centre

There were multiple stakeholders, including the local council, Severn Ham Committee, Commoner’s Association, Natural England, landowners, various agencies and the public who regularly use the land 

The Severn Ham is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), home to a variety of rare ground-nesting bird and plant species, and is one of the few traditionally managed Ham meadows left in the UK

 

Dalcour Maclaren’s involvement

  1. Land referencing - identifying the landowners, occupiers and third parties affected by the project, consulting with them and serving the correct Water Industry Act 1991 notices
  2. Surveying  - site and ground investigation works, including ecology surveys and trial holes to inform design
  3. Agricultural advice - advising on crossing points to maintain livestock grazing during construction and planning to minimise disruption to farming operations, hay cutting and soil compaction, ultimately reducing compensation
  4. Consent management - including Commons Consent, Public Rights of Way Closures, Environment Agency consents and Natural England Assent for working in an SSSI
  5. Liaising with stakeholders - holding weekly meetings and building trust with key stakeholders, including the contractor, the council and committee, landowners and graziers
  6. Reinstatement  - extensive liaison with the Town Council and Severn Ham committee to understand their preference for reinstatement while considering timescales and SSSI status

 

THE DM DIFFERENCE

We Challenge

This was a complex project with multiple stakeholders. Our project management team worked hard to build strong relationships with all involved, creating project trackers for each stakeholder to understand how the work would impact them and holding weekly meetings to make sure that everyone was heard and kept in the loop. A wider public PR campaign was also important to reassure the public, so we made sure that regular updates were posted on social media and on notice boards onsite.

A unique challenge for this site is its location on a floodplain, making it liable to flood at short notice. Flooding would have health and safety implications for the construction team and halt all work, causing a significant impact on both timescales and costs. We put an action plan in place to ensure that floods caused as little disruption as possible and made sure that everyone involved knew exactly how to action it if necessary. 

Our rigorous project management processes and our understanding of the human impact of projects like these mean that we’re well equipped to deal with complex or unusual situations.

There are very few projects of this length which have as many stakeholders and environmental constraints as Severn Ham mains renewal did.  Dalcour Maclaren was an important part of the team that managed those stakeholders, and their care and professionalism were invaluable in making the project a success.

The logo of Severn Trent, featuring the words 'SEVERN' in white text on a blue background and 'TRENT' in white text on a green background, separated by a white border.

We Innovate

As the site is a favoured breeding ground for several ground-nesting bird species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, there was a high likelihood a bird would nest within the area during construction. After consultation with Natural England we came up with mitigation measures that allowed the scheme to be delivered while minimising disturbance to birds.

This included the use of trained dogs running along the working strip to dissuade birds and reduce the likelihood of nests being built within the working area, with a relatively low impact on flora and fauna. It is this kind of outside-the-box thinking that allows us to find useful and cost-effective solutions for our clients. 

We Care

We take pride in going above and beyond for our clients and for the environment. As Severn Ham is a SSSI, we took measures to ensure that the green hay that grew on the site was reinstated in the most appropriate way possible. 

Rather than just spreading a typical seed mix, a species-rich green hay donor site was located nearby that had the required plant species. The cutting and spreading of the Green Hay was undertaken within a 48-hour timeframe. Works were carried out by a local farmer with knowledge of the area and site, rather than bringing in an outside contractor. 

An enduring relationship

The planned works for this project were completed in 2022, but the strong relationships we forged with the local council and the contractor involved in the project meant that we were perfectly placed to help mitigate unexpected bursts in 2024 and 2025.Â