Far Sawrey compound approved for Windermere wastewater works

The Lake District National Park Authority has granted planning permission for an existing layby opposite the entrance to Far Sawrey Wastewater Treatment Works, at High Cunsey, Claife, to be used during improvement works at the site.

The application was registered on August 18 and approved with conditions on October 19.

United Utilities plans to fence off the existing hardstanding area, allowing it to be used for construction vehicle parking, material storage and a towable welfare unit.

The work forms part of the company’s Windermere Programme, which aims to improve wastewater treatment and reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lake.

United Utilities said improvements are planned at nine wastewater treatment works at Ambleside, Far Sawrey, Ferry House, Grasmere, Hawkshead, Langdale, Near Sawrey, Outgate and Troutbeck.

Work is also planned at all six storm overflows which discharge into Windermere, with the company saying the improvements would reduce spills to an average of 10 per year.

At Far Sawrey, the existing treatment works are due to be replaced with a new treatment process to meet the required discharge consent.

Planning documents say the site's constrained location, surrounded by steep ground and ancient woodland, means a remote compound is needed to support the project.

The 257sq m compound is within Waterbarrow Ancient and Semi-Natural Woodland, while a mature oak tree beside the site was identified as potentially being a veteran tree.

However, planning officers said no physical alterations to the layby were proposed and the compound would be restricted to existing hardstanding.

A report said: "Though close to mature trees and within a designated area the proposals before me do not seek to use any area of the layby that is not already used for the parking of vehicles."

Claife Parish Council supported the application but requested protection for the oak and other trees and asked that the road remain open to normal traffic.

The Local Highway Authority raised no objection after further information established that construction traffic would use a one-way system, entering the layby from the south and leaving from the north.

Planning officers acknowledged fencing, construction vehicles and the welfare unit would have an "adverse visual and landscape impact" on the rural character of the lane, but concluded this would affect only a short section and would be temporary.

The layby is opposite 1 and 2 Crabtree Cottages.

Officers said its use as a compound was likely to result in a "minor intensification in activity", but concluded it would not have an unacceptable effect on neighbouring amenity.

United Utilities' documents say up to six operatives are expected to work on the scheme at its peak, with a maximum of six HGV movements a day during construction.

Proposed working hours are 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, with no work normally taking place at weekends or on bank holidays.

The Far Sawrey project is planned to run from October 2026 until August 2027.

Permission has been granted on the condition that measures in the submitted tree survey are implemented before the compound comes into use and remain in place throughout.

Under a further condition, use of the compound must cease and the land be restored to its former condition by July 31, 2028, including the removal of fencing, welfare units, materials and other associated structures.