New visitor hub at Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs starts to take shape
25 January 2023
Work is well underway on the highly anticipated construction of Welsh Water’s brand-new visitor attraction hub at Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs.
The work by the not-for-profit water company got underway in January 2022 and will include a two-storey visitor hub with spectacular views across both reservoirs. It will also feature changing rooms, showers and toilets for watersports, training rooms for the local community to use, as well as a café with spectacular views across both reservoirs.
Cardiff-based firm BECT Building Contractors have been delivering the building work for this exciting project in the heart of Cardiff. The superstructure of the new building has been completed and work on the interior elements of the building are underway.
As part of the company’s environmental plans, the design of the visitor centre incorporates features to improve its green credentials and reduce its carbon footprint. This includes a large solar photovoltaic (PV) installation on the roof, the use of ‘green’ gas which will be generated from Welsh Water’s sewerage treatment, a sustainable drainage system with underground drainage space and a rain garden to attenuate and filter rainwaters. It will also have a heat recovery ventilation system within the changing rooms and waste water heat recovery shower trays.
Once completed, the Welsh Water site will offer an array of watersports including stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, and electric picnic boats.
An exciting addition to the site is the development of an education hub – which includes creating a Learning Zone with an outdoor classroom and Welsh roundhouse ranger-led education activities, volunteering and work experience opportunities.
Jo Stevens, Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central, visited the site earlier this month. She said: "Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs is an exciting project that will bring so many benefits to the local community. Through the range of activities and volunteering opportunities that will be offered, it has the potential to become an iconic water based and outdoor hub that will give people the opportunity to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that getting outside can bring."
To find out more about this exciting new development in the heart of Cardiff, visit dwrcymru.com/lisvaneandllanishen.