United Utilities begins £80 million investment in Stockport water infrastructure

United Utilities has begun work on delivering £80 million of investments to improve water quality and infrastructure across Stockport.

The water company will begin five projects across the borough in the next six months to reduce the use of storm overflows during heavy rainfall and improve water quality in Stockport’s waterways. In total, more than 19 million litres of storage will be built across five sites in the borough, equivalent of seven and a half Olympic sized swimming pools.

Already underway is the construction of a 500 m³ underground tank at Cheadle Golf Club, expected to be completed by the end of 2026 to improve water quality in Micker Brook.

Two further projects are due to start in Bramhall in the new year that will also help improve water quality in Micker Brook. Work on the Briarlands Close CSO is due to start in January 2026 and will take up to 12 months to complete installation of a 1000 m³ underground tank. A 320 m³ tank will also be built at Lumb Lane: work is set to start there in February 2026 and will take up to 12 months to complete.

An additional key scheme will take place at Stockport wastewater treatment works where more than 16.7 million litres of storage will be created by building multiple new storm tanks. 

United Utilities has this week submitted an environmental impact assessment screening request to the council for the works. Initial work is expected to start in early 2026 and will be completed by the end of 2028. The project will improve water quality in the River Mersey.

Close to the town centre, work on a 650 m³ storage tank will take place near Hope Street.  Work is expected to start in Spring and be completed by the end of 2028.  This will also improve water quality into the River Mersey.

Chris Borradaile, Wastewater Director for United Utilities, said:

“We’re working at pace right across the region to deliver the largest investment in the wastewater network for a century.  These five projects in Stockport will make a real difference to water quality in both the River Mersey and Micker Brook.”

Projects are the first in a series of wastewater projects planned for Stockport over the next five years. Across the region, United Utilities is beginning a more than £13 billion investment in its infrastructure to protect and enhance over 500 km of waterways and coastline, and safeguard drinking water supplies.