Summary
Tricel Water designed, manufactured and installed two large GRP sectional water tanks (8m × 7m × 4m deep) for HS2’s Greatworth Green and Chipping Warden Green Tunnel sites, working alongside the EKFB Joint Venture (Eiffage, Kier Group, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall). Both tanks were delivered in 2025 with zero delays to HS2’s construction programme and are now in their final installation and sign-off phase. A third tank of the same specification is scheduled for installation in early 2026, continuing Tricel Water’s role in HS2’s Green Tunnel programme.
Project Information
At a Glance
HS2 Ltd. – The UK’s flagship high speed rail project, transforming transport between London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds while prioritising environmental and community sustainability.
Rail Infrastructure, Civil Engineering, and Construction
EKFB Joint Venture – a collaboration between Eiffage, Kier Group, Ferrovial Construction, and BAM Nuttall
8m x 7m x 4m deep (x2 installed; third planned for 2026)
Tricel Water designed, manufactured, and installed two large GRP water tanks (8m × 7m × 4m) for HS2’s Greatworth Green and Chipping Warden Green Tunnel projects. A third tank is planned for early 2026, continuing Tricel Water’s key role in the Green Tunnel programme.
HS2’s Green Tunnels programme required bespoke water storage infrastructure to support construction and long-term operations. Tight deadlines, rural site access, environmental commitments, and oversized components demanded exceptional engineering precision.
2025 – First two tanks installed
2026 – Third tank scheduled
Tanks in Final Installation Phase & Sign Off
Project Background
A Bespoke Water Storage Solution
HS2 is one of Europe’s largest infrastructure investments, aimed at delivering a high-speed rail link between London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds, transforming UK transport and supporting sustainable growth.
The green tunnels programme is a unique element of HS2’s design. Unlike traditional bored tunnels, these cut-and-cover tunnels are constructed in open trenches before being covered over and landscaped to blend seamlessly into the surrounding countryside.
The Greatworth Green Tunnel and Chipping Warden Green Tunnel, each 2.5km long, are designed to:
•Reduce the railway’s visual and noise impact.
•Restore natural habitats and biodiversity.
•Deliver a sustainable and community-sensitive rail corridor.
Delivery Approach
Tricel's Engineering and Delivery Approach
Tricel’s engineering, logistics, and installation teams collaborated closely with EKFB engineers to deliver a seamless, high-quality solution.
Bespoke GRP Tank Design
Tanks were designed to exact specifications, ensuring maximum capacity, durability, and compliance with HS2’s stringent engineering requirements.
Precision Logistics and Delivery
Transportation plans were created to deliver tank components to the rural construction sites with minimal disruption, ensuring adherence to HS2’s traffic and environmental management strategies.
On-Site Installation Expertise
Tricel’s installation teams deployed equipment and expertise to position and secure the tanks within restricted tunnel site areas, maintaining safety and efficiency throughout.
Sustainability Built-In
GRP construction ensures corrosion resistance, low maintenance requirements, and long-term durability, supporting HS2’s environmental objectives and lifecycle cost efficiency.
The Brief
Understanding the Challenge
Delivering water storage solutions for a project of HS2’s scale required addressing several challenges:
•Large-Scale Engineering: Each tank’s dimensions (8m x 7m x 4m deep) brought unique challenges that encouraged creative solutions in manufacturing, delivery, and installation.
•Restricted Site Access: Tunnels are in rural locations, requiring detailed logistics planning to transport large components.
•Environmental Considerations: HS2’s strict sustainability commitments meant solutions had to align with environmental protection and long-term resilience standards.
•Tight Construction Timelines: HS2’s extensive civil works programme leaves no room for delays; installations needed precision scheduling.
•Future-Proofing: The tanks needed to serve immediate construction needs and remain functional for decades.
“Tricel Water’s expertise and precision delivery made this critical part of the HS2 Green Tunnel programme seamless and stress free.”
— Client Feedback, HS2 Green Tunnels Programme
Programme
Timeline
Successful installation of two large tanks at Greatworth Green and Chipping Warden tunnels.
Scheduled installation of the third tank to complete HS2’s Green Tunnel water storage infrastructure.
Tanks in final installation phase & sign off — supporting construction and long-term operational water storage.
Outcome
From Vision to Results: A Seamless Execution
Both tanks were delivered and installed seamlessly, with zero delays to HS2’s ambitious construction programme.
Site capabilities: the tanks provide essential water storage for construction and future operational requirements, supporting site safety and environmental management.
Expertise: this high-profile project demonstrates Tricel’s capability in delivering complex GRP water storage solutions for large-scale infrastructure.
Sustainability integration: solutions align with HS2’s commitment to reducing environmental impact and integrating construction with natural landscapes.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Tricel Water supply for the HS2 Green Tunnels programme?
Tricel Water designed, manufactured and installed two large GRP sectional water tanks, each measuring 8m x 7m x 4m deep, for HS2’s Greatworth Green Tunnel and Chipping Warden Green Tunnel sites. A third tank of the same specification is scheduled for installation in early 2026.
Who is Tricel Water working with on the HS2 Green Tunnels project?
Tricel Water is supplying tanks to the EKFB Joint Venture — a collaboration between Eiffage, Kier Group, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall — the main contractor delivering the Greatworth and Chipping Warden Green Tunnels for client HS2 Ltd.
Why does the HS2 Green Tunnels programme need bespoke GRP water tanks?
The Greatworth and Chipping Warden Green Tunnels are 2.5km cut-and-cover tunnels built in open trenches and landscaped over to reduce visual and noise impact and restore habitats. This construction method, combined with rural site access and strict environmental commitments, required bespoke, oversized GRP tanks that could be manufactured off-site and installed with minimal disruption.
What size are the GRP tanks installed on the HS2 Green Tunnels?
Each tank measures 8m x 7m x 4m deep. Two have been installed as part of the 2025 phase, with a third of the same dimensions planned for early 2026.
What material are the HS2 water storage tanks made from, and why?
The tanks are manufactured from GRP (glass reinforced plastic). GRP construction gives corrosion resistance, low maintenance requirements and long-term durability, supporting HS2’s environmental objectives and lifecycle cost efficiency for both construction-phase and long-term operational water storage.
What is the current status of the HS2 tank installation project?
The first two tanks at Greatworth Green and Chipping Warden are in their final installation phase and sign-off, having been delivered on time with zero delays to HS2’s construction programme. The third tank remains scheduled for 2026.
What challenges did Tricel Water have to overcome on this project?
Key challenges included the large-scale engineering demands of oversized 8m x 7m x 4m components, restricted rural site access requiring detailed logistics planning, HS2’s strict environmental and sustainability commitments, tight construction timelines with no room for delay, and the need to future-proof the tanks for decades of operational use.
Where does Tricel Water manufacture its GRP tanks?
Tricel Water manufactures its GRP sectional and one-piece tanks at two UK sites: Tricel Weston in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset (operating since 1956, formerly Dewey Waters), and Tricel Lanark in Lanark, Scotland (formerly Nicholson Plastics).
About HS2 Ltd
High Speed Two Ltd (HS2) is a UK government-funded company, established in January 2009, tasked with designing, building and operating the UK’s new high-speed rail network. Its core mission is to connect major cities – starting with London to Birmingham – through fast, zero-carbon journeys, freeing up capacity on existing lines and spurring economic growth along its route. HS2 is responsible for the construction of tracks, bridges, viaducts, tunnels and stations, as well as environmental sustainability, safety, and integration with existing transport systems.
About Tricel Water UK
Tricel Water manufactures WRAS Regulation 4(1)a approved GRP cold water storage tanks — sectional and one-piece — from 45 litres to over 4,000,000 litres, compliant with BS EN 13280:2001 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. With over 60 years of UK manufacturing heritage across two sites in Weston-super-Mare and Lanark, Tricel Water is specified by consulting engineers, MEP contractors and facilities managers throughout the UK, across infrastructure, healthcare, education, high-rise and industrial sectors.
CONTENTS
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Installation of Cold Water Storage Tanks for HS2
Tricel Water designed, manufactured, and
installed two large GRP water tanks
for HS2’s Greatworth Green and Chipping Warden
Green Tunnel projects.
