Visitor Centre, Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs

The project

This visitor’s centre at the Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs, a few miles outside Cardiff, provides a hub for water sports and outdoor activities while bringing the 19th-century reservoirs back into use.

Working with BECT Building Contractors, we delivered the technical design for the new two-storey building, which provides changing rooms, showers, toilets for water sports, training rooms for the local community, an education hub, and a café serving local produce.

Protecting the environment

Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs is a natural resource of significant ecological value and encompasses two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). To reduce the building’s environmental impact, low-carbon design features have been incorporated, including large solar photovoltaic panels 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. A heat recovery ventilation system within the changing rooms and waste water heat recovery shower trays have also been provided.

A hub for health and wellbeing

Welsh Water has been working with partners and the local community for the past seven years to bring the reservoirs back into operational use. The Lisvane and Llanishen reservoir reopening adds a fifth site to Welsh Water Adventures portfolio of visitor attractions across Wales.