Construction work has started on Southern Water’s £63 million treatment wastewater works in Woolston, Southampton.

Representatives from Southampton City Council, housing developer Crest Nicholson, the Environment Agency and community groups gathered at the site in Victoria Road yesterday.

Southern Water and contractor 4Delivery explained how the state of the art treatment works and its new odour control system will be built and the huge benefits it will bring to customers and the environment.

Guests also had the opportunity to “walk through” the new works, by viewing the 3D model.

Heather Barber, Southern Water’s Head of Project Delivery, said:

“It was great that so many people helped us celebrate the start of this major scheme. Customers have been waiting for a new treatment works for many years and we’re thrilled we are now able to deliver it. We’d like thank customers for their patience and support in us getting to this point.”

Work started on the scheme in September. The majority of the existing site, which was built in the 1960s, will be demolished and new treatment units built in its place.

First a temporary treatment works is being built, to ensure wastewater from the 62,000 people in the area can still be treated while construction takes place.

The new site is expected to be up and running in 2019.