21 November 2025

Over the next five years, from 2025 to 2030, United Utilities is delivering its largest ever programme of investment in the area. The multi-million pound investment plan will both upgrade treatment standards at nine wastewater treatment works across Windermere and also create extra storage capacity to reduce spills from storm overflows, all helping to further improve water quality in the lake.  

Ambleside is one of the flagship projects.  

This would see two new above ground storage tanks in Miller Field. The tanks would be 27m wide and 5m high, and would hold around 4,500m3 of water – that’s about the same as two Olympic size swimming pools. The tanks would help to improve water quality in Windermere by increasing storage capacity, therefore reducing the number of times that the storm overflow at the site operates.  

The proposed scheme is currently going through the planning process, with a decision expected in early 2026. Improvements at Ambleside would also include more stringent treatment standards, so further reducing phosphorus as the wastewater goes through the cleaning process.  

In the meantime, the team at United Utilities is continuing to prepare the site for the changes ahead, with fencing and operational compounds beginning to take shape. There have also been lots of discussions with those close to the site or using the field, including the football club and very popular ParkRun, where it has been possible to agree a safe running route to enable the run to continue while any work is ongoing.  

Find out about the United Utilities proposals for Ambleside here: ambleside-exhibition-boards-july-2025.pdf 

To find out more about United Utilities’ investment plans for the whole Windermere catchment, click here: Windermere | United Utilities