Roof row reservoir 'looks like huge car park'

Locals now see tonnes of gravel instead of a grass mound

A hidden reservoir which was due to be covered with a grass roof now resembles a "car park" the size of three football pitches, angry locals have said.

Original plans for the 9.5m-gallon (43m-litre) structure in Springwell Village, Sunderland, included blending the "underground" structure in with the scenery.

However villagers said they were "duped" by Northumbrian Water (NWL), which changed its plans from a grass top to the permanent installation of grey gravel.

The water company said it had amended the plans after receiving "updated industry guidance" to "protect water quality in the reservoir", while Sunderland City Council said it followed "national and local planning policies".

Resident Chris Green said: "They are not delivering on their intention, promise or plan to return this area – a corridor of wildlife – to its original state."

Other locals described an area thriving with insects and the field used by grazing horses before the reservoir's construction began in June 2023.

Mr Green said: "They've inserted a rather large structure into the hillside and we were led to believe it would look natural, as it did when they started.

"Now we have tonnes of gravel on top of what looks like three football pitches."

He said the city council had "green-lighted the project all the way through" without "paying any attention" to the environmental impact.

Plans originally submitted to Sunderland City Council showed a grass-topped roof

Initial plans submitted to the local authority revealed the reservoir - which will serve homes in Wearside and South Tyneside, would be covered with grass, but they were successfully amended by NWL in 2022.

At the time the company said the amended proposals "do not result in a scheme which is substantially different to that previously approved".

But residents claim this is untrue and believe it was cheaper to cover the site with gravel, despite concerns over the impact to wildlife and appearance.

Dave Bain called the site off Mount Lane "monstrous"

Dave Bain, who lives nearby, said: "It's just totally wrong.

"We were told everything will be reinstated, it will be a light incline, everything will be green.

"It's always been a lovely place, now we've got this monstrosity. It's not going to be the village it once was."

Residents also claimed they have had to deal with "years of disruption" from vehicles and machinery which has caused significant dirt and dust in the village.

The site was due to be finished in March but the project has suffered delays and is now expected to be completed in 2026.

Now built, the reservoir which will serve up to 250,000 homes has been covered with grey gravel

A spokesperson for Northumbrian Water said: "We received updated industry guidance from UK Water Industry Research which recommends a gravel or shingle roof covering as best practice to protect water quality in the reservoir.

"Gravel offers superior performance in maintaining the integrity of the reservoir tank when compared to grass roofs... the change is not about cost.

"We have been honest with people about the change to the roof and the need for it, and have been working with residents throughout the project to find ways to mitigate the impact of the reservoir."

Meanwhile, Sunderland City Council said it "followed due process" when determining the application and amendments, which included "public consultation" where "all comments received were taken into account".