Avove

Hungarton STW

Avove adopts highly collaborative approach to deliver essential compliance and environmental enhancements

By: Avove

Published: November 28, 2025

Hungarton STW

As a leading infrastructure and engineering company, Avove understand the importance of combining innovation with sustainability, adopting a highly collaborative approach to achieve and exceed the project’s objectives. This was recently demonstrated when Avove supported Severn Trent on a project designed to improve effluent quality at Hungarton Sewage Treatment Works (STW), located in a small village in Leicestershire.

Enhanced collaboration was critical to the success of the project, as we worked alongside our project partners to ensure a seamless delivery process, with sustainability underpinning all phases of the works. This fusion of expertise delivered significant compliance and environmental benefits, with minimal disruption to Hungarton’s residents.

The challenge

Despite strong operational performance for many decades, Hungarton STW required enhancements to improve its effluent quality, so that it would comply with new standards set out in the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), forming part of Severn Trent’s wider ‘Green Recovery’ programme. As with every project we undertake, our experienced teams assessed the scope of the works to identify and overcome key challenges, including:

Ground conditions: The site presented challenging ground conditions, including variable soil strength and high groundwater levels, which impacted excavation, foundation design and construction sequencing.
Adverse weather: Prolonged periods of heavy rainfall threatened to cause delays and disrupt construction activities, as ground access became impacted and the risk of water ingress into excavations was increased.
Limitations of site hydraulics: The existing hydraulic profile of the site restricted flow capacity and constrained the integration of new treatment processes.

Through the implementation of contingency measures and best-in-class methodologies and expertise, we successfully traversed each of these challenges, ensuring works were completed in a timely manner.

The approach

Adopting a highly collaborative approach was essential to a successful delivery. By working closely with Severn Trent and their project management team, and then liaising with our partners, we guaranteed the alignment of key objectives and coordinated activities through a structured approach and robust delivery model.

This commitment to collaboration ensured all risks and opportunities were effectively managed to maximise benefits, with ample consideration given to the project’s sustainability and its impact on residents. From efficient resource allocation to ensuring a safe working environment for all colleagues, our approach entailed:

Early contractor involvement (ECI): Collaborative input from all stakeholders during the preliminary stages helped us develop innovative solutions and reduced later risks.
Geotechnical assessments: Additional geotechnical assessments and adaptive construction methods ensured stability and safety during works.
Effective contingency planning: To mitigate the risks posed by adverse weather conditions, contingency measures such as temporary drainage, ground protection and programme re-sequencing were introduced.
Coordinated design process: Designing upgrades within the site’s hydraulic limitations required careful coordination to ensure compliance with new permits, whilst maintaining continuous operation throughout construction.

To complete this approach, we developed a proactive communications strategy to ensure local residents and key stakeholders were aware of the works and informed after every key phase and milestone. This open and transparent approach helped build trust, allowed works to progress and kept the project on track.

The solution

The Hungarton STW project aligned with Severn Trent’s organisational goals of sustainability, biodiversity and environmental responsibility, forming a strong part of its wider ‘Green Recovery’ programme. It was through proactive collaboration that we were able to deliver an effective solution, ensuring project objectives were achieved.

Early contractor engagement: This project demonstrated our expertise in innovative solutions and securing critical approvals to ensure the works were not delayed.
Innovative design: The use of ‘Cell Pave’ for the access road was a strong example of innovative design, combining functionality with sustainability. As a permeable, load-bearing surface, it allowed for natural drainage, reducing the need for conventional surface water infrastructure and minimising flood risk.
Landscape preservation: The modular, low-impact construction of the sustainable access road preserved the existing landscape as it required less excavation and material use compared to traditional paving. This aligned with sustainable design principles and demonstrated a creative, efficient solution tailored to the rural site context.
Sustainable technology: The use of tertiary treatment reed beds and two reactive media beds provides a low-energy, chemical-free approach to wastewater treatment, supporting the removal of pollutants and contaminants in a sustainable way. These systems reduce operational carbon emissions, require minimal maintenance and enhance biodiversity by creating natural habitats.
Enhanced monitoring capabilities: As part of the project, we upgraded Hungarton STW’s quality monitoring capabilities, implementing an interstage pump station and modern on-site laboratory to support future testing.

Throughout the delivery, project teams worked diligently to ensure construction methods were cost-effective and within scope, ensuring the time and budget requirements outlined at the outset were adhered to. This helped us achieve a high degree of client satisfaction upon completion.

The benefits

Our team’s collective commitment to innovation and sustainability delivered important enhancements to Hungarton STW. However, the long-term benefits delivered by the project were wide reaching, both from a compliance and environmental standpoint.

Long-term compliance: The solution achieved compliance with the tighter phosphorous discharge permit, as set out in the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP).
Enhanced innovation: Collaborative working between Avove and other key partners allowed for greater innovation and the successful delivery of a modern STW, capable of serving the community long-term.
Wildlife preservation: The use of tertiary treatment reed beds and reactive media beds allows wildlife to thrive, aligning with Severn Trent and its customers’ expectations for environmental improvements.
Improved amenity value: The project provides improved amenity value by making the nearby river a more attractive place for people to visit.
Sustainability enhancements: Sustainable treatment solutions provide new habitat opportunities for wildlife, particularly within rural communities, like Hungarton.
Improved safety: Adaptive construction and innovative design methods ensured the works were completed safely, with detailed assessments conducted throughout the project’s lifecycle.

The results

The success of this project, and the efficiency of its delivery, showcases the possibilities that can be unlocked through a combination of collaboration and technical expertise. Throughout the process, we worked closely with our partners, understanding the importance of adopting an open and transparent approach that would enable the seamless implementation of modern and sustainable enhancements.

It was this approach, underpinned by thorough planning and innovative design methods, that ensured the results aligned with Severn Trent’s objectives, supporting local development and delivering environmental improvements for years to come. We’re pleased to see Hungarton STW operating as effectively as was projected, with local residents benefitting from the arrival of new wildlife and the provision of high-quality infrastructure.