Beton Bauen helps to finish this new development, which includes a brand-new visitor centre and café, as well as nature trails, watersports and other leisure activities
Image courtesy of Wales Online / Welsh Water
Project Title: Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs Sector: Sports & Leisure
Project Duration: Jan 2022 to July 2023
Our Client: Knights Brown
On Behalf of: Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig (Welsh Water)
Other Stakeholders: Welsh Government; Cardiff County Council
Built in the late-19th century, Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs are a Victorian landmark – covering 110 acres of green and blue space and home to a range of flora and fauna. They encompass two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The reservoirs came under threat in 2001, which led members of the local community forming the Reservoir Action Group (RAG), which successfully campaigned to save the reservoirs from a housing development.
In 2016, Welsh Water stepped in, purchasing a 999-year lease for the site from Celsa Steel. Since taking over the site, Welsh Water has worked in partnership with RAG on the plans. The redevelopment of Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs is backed with £932k of funding from the Welsh Government’s 'Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being' (ENRaW) scheme towards the paths and the green infrastructure, with an additional £250k Community Woodland grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the woodland area.
On Friday, July 28, the site opens to visitors, where they can enjoy food, sport activities, walks, and wildlife. The aim of the attraction is to create a hub for health and wellbeing while protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of the site.
Work to construct the brand new visitor hub got underway in January 2022, featuring a café with panoramic views across both reservoirs by local Cardiff-based contractor BECT Building Contractors.
Further work to construct the footpaths, and walkways around the reservoirs was contracted to Knights Brown, who subsequently brought in Beton Bauen, to complete specialist services relating to concrete repair and protective coatings for steps. Beton Bauen completed their works during April 2023.
The specialist Beton Bauen team specifically worked on concrete treads for the steps, leading to various walkways around the reservoirs and visitor hub. The project also focused on nose capping and levelling relevant concrete areas to stop water 'ponding'. Additional concrete repair works were carried out as well as protective coatings to improve longevity of concrete areas in an obvious wet environment.
Ecologists have overseen every stage of this work to minimise the impact of the development and protect the iconic wildlife all around – from the waxcap fungi to the overwintering birds. The reopening of Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs will add a fifth site to Welsh Water Adventures portfolio of visitor attractions across Wales.
For a full list of collaborators, contributors and other key stakeholders visit: https://lisvane-llanishen.com/restoring-the-reservoirs/