A water treatment plant said to be first of its kind has been unveiled at a housing development in Canterbury, Kent.
The new plant is located at The Woodlands development in Broad Oak, Sturry, and it is said to be the first to enter full service in the UK for a housing developer specifically to meet nutrient neutrality regulations.
Officially named ‘The Woodlands Water Recycling Centre’, the plant is a purpose-built solution for achieving nutrient neutrality under the ‘Habitats Regulations’. It was delivered by a joint venture between housebuilder Barratt David Wilson Kent, EPS Water, and ICOSA.
Nutrient Neutrality applies to applications where there is a net increase in the number of dwellings, such as new housing developments, and allows developments to be permitted without impacting the condition of protected sites.
Work on the site began back in March 2023 with the official commencement of operations in August 2024. The facility now treats all flows from the growing development and is operated by Icosa Water Ltd, an Ofwat-regulated company, with EPS Water providing operational support.
The unveiling event welcomed Canterbury City Council’s cabinet lead for biodiversity and climate change, Councillor Mel Dawkins, along with the sheriff of Canterbury, councillor Keji Moses, and other local councillors.
Dawkins said: “At Canterbury City Council, our main aim is to create a cleaner, greener, safer and more inclusive environment for all who live in our city. The treatment works will benefit the wider area of Sturry and is a groundbreaking project for Kent in terms of sustainability.
“It was an honour to be invited to the official unveiling of the new recycling centre and to speak to key representatives involved with the project, and we are fortunate enough that this is in our very own city of Canterbury. We are looking forward to seeing how this blueprint project will be rolled out across the UK to meet Nutrient Neutrality requirements.”
During the visit, the councillors received a full tour of the new water treatment plant, information on the positive outcomes for The Woodlands and Canterbury, and the opportunity to discuss the future operations of the plant.
William Walsh, managing director for Barratt David Wilson Kent, said: “Working closely with EPS Water and Icosa Water has allowed us to pursue our sustainability goals here at Barratt David Wilson Kent.
“We feel privileged to have welcomed representatives from Canterbury City Council and to discuss the importance of the first-of-its-kind treatment works. Finding suitable solutions for Nutrient Neutrality to unlock homes is essential, and this project is setting the standard for future projects across the UK.”
Shaun Stevens, general UK manager from EPS Water, added: “EPS has played a central role in delivering this ground-breaking wastewater treatment project. By providing Barratt David Wilson Kent with a workable and practical solution to Nutrient Neutrality at The Woodlands, we have unlocked a mechanism for addressing sites with similar designations across the UK. We wish to thank all who attended on the day and all other stakeholders in the scheme for their support and collaboration throughout the development and delivery of the project.”
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