Pumping station tops out in time for Christmas

17 December 2025

The Oxford Science Park, together with Thames Water and Morgan Sindall, have celebrated the topping out of its new pumping station enclosure ahead of the Christmas break.

The project forms part of a three-year collaboration between The Oxford Science Park and Thames Water to design and deliver the relocation of an existing pumping station that is more than 40 years old. While modest in scale, the scheme has presented significant technical challenges, requiring a high level of coordination, precision and engineering expertise.

Much of the complex civil engineering work has taken place around ten metres below ground level. The construction involves extensive secant piling and reinforced concrete walls to form the new wet well, making the project particularly demanding despite its relatively compact footprint.

The topping out represents a critical milestone in the programme and enables Morgan Sindall to move forward with the internal fit-out phase in the new year. This will include the installation of electrical panelling and pumps, with work on the associated rising mains and connections to Thames Water’s existing infrastructure scheduled to begin in mid-January 2026.

The project team has paid tribute to all those involved in delivering the scheme to date, thanking partners and contractors for their dedication and commitment, and extending seasonal best wishes as the project moves into its next phase.

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Pumping station tops out in time for Christmas