Underground storage tank plan to stop sewage leaks

The proposed underground storage system will be on Unicorn Lane in Eastern Green, Coventry

A water company has said it wants to reduce sewage spills by building an underground storage system next to a pub.

Severn Trent Water has submitted plans for a site off Unicorn Lane in Eastern Green, Coventry.

The company said it aimed to increase storage space in the local sewerage network so there were fewer spills from combined sewer overflows in the city.

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) release sewage into waterways when there is heavy rain to prevent the system from being overwhelmed.

They are only supposed to be used in exceptional circumstances to stop buildings from flooding with sewage, but campaigners and politicians have complained they are being used too frequently.

Water companies have collectively pledged to invest £10bn in upgrading the nation’s sewers to tackle the issue.

A total of 60,253 spills were recorded for the Severn Trent area in 2023, meaning sewage was released into rivers and streams for the equivalent of 18,352 days uninterrupted.

'Bathing rivers'

A spokesperson for the firm said it had seen a third more rain compared with 2022 and highlighted its investment in storm overflows.

The project in Coventry comes amid a £78m scheme by Severn Trent to improve the health of rivers across Warwickshire, according to a planning statement.

The company also aims to create two "bathing rivers" in the region, it said.

The site at Unicorn Lane is currently woodland and grassland.

Some protected trees would need to be removed for the work, the planning statement said.

A monetary value has been calculated, so compensation could be agreed with the council, although some trees would likely need to be removed in five years for safety reasons due to disease, the company’s report said.

There have also proposed changes to a junction so that vehicles can turn safely.

The firm said all possible other sites for the scheme had been "carefully reviewed and discounted".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.