ESD receives national recognition for sustainable delivery of Winchburgh WwTW

ESD, a joint venture between our Morrison Construction business, Binnies and MWH Treatment, has been honoured with the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Major Project Award for Sustainability for its work on the Winchburgh Waste Water Treatment Works (WwTW) in West Lothian.

This prestigious accolade recognises teams that have played a pivotal role in delivering major engineering projects that drive significant social and environmental impact. The award will be presented at the Academy Awards Dinner in London on Tuesday 8 July.

Delivered on behalf of Scottish Water, the new £35m WwTW replaces an ageing asset that had reached the end of its operational life. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to support a projected fourfold increase in the town’s population, providing long-term resilience and environmental protection for the growing community.

A key feature of the project is the adoption of Nereda® technology, developed by Haskoning and provided via UK licence holder EPS. This advanced process harnesses naturally occurring microorganisms in waste water to treat organic pollutants in a single-tank system—offering faster treatment, reduced chemical usage, a smaller footprint, and up to 50% lower energy consumption compared with traditional alternatives.

Paul Ingham, Managing Director for Morrison Construction’s Environment business, commented: “We are proud to see our collaborative approach recognised on a national stage. This award highlights the excellence, innovation and sustainability that underpin our work as we continue delivering vital infrastructure for Scottish Water and the communities they serve.”

Peter Walsh, Chief Operating Officer at ESD, added: “This is a well-deserved recognition of the collective effort behind the Winchburgh project. My sincere thanks go to our ESD colleagues and supply chain partners for their dedication and technical expertise in delivering this landmark sustainable facility.”

Medals will be formally presented at a ceremony in London this July.