18-05-2025
New £1.4m wetland to be built from this summer after planning approval gained
A £1.4m wetland will be constructed in North Yorkshire after planning approval was gained for the site earlier this week.
Yorkshire Water will construct the wetland south of its existing wastewater treatment works in Bellerby after the proposals were given the go-ahead by North Yorkshire Council.
Once completed, the Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) will use plants to naturally treat wastewater in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, before the treated water is returned to Bellerby Beck – a tributary of the river Swale.
Bellerby wetland artist's impression (Image: YORKSHIRE WATER) Yorkshire Water will be holding a drop-in session at Bellerby Memorial Hall on June 10, for residents to find out more about the project plans.
The wetland will be planted with 14,000 wetland plants to help improve the performance of the treatment works.
The natural filtering process will improve the quality of water being returned to the environment, protecting the watercourse and wildlife, allowing them to thrive.
Bellerby wetland visualisation (Image: YORKSHIRE WATER) Elizabeth Healey, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: 'This project will provide a range of benefits to the local environment once it is completed.
"The wetland plants will naturally treat the wastewater to improve water quality in Bellerby Beck, and the plants will also provide wildlife diversity and help achieve a biodiversity net gain.
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'We have constructed wetlands of this nature at other sites in Yorkshire and they have proved to be extremely successful in treating wastewater and reducing Phosphorus levels entering watercourses.
"We are focused on delivering low-carbon, nature-based solutions where possible across the region, and we're pleased to have received permission to begin this exciting project.'
Work at Bellerby will be completed by Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) and is expected to begin in summer 2025.
