Securing an EA Permit for England’s Only Intact Medieval Castle Hotel
Peckforton Castle faced EA enforcement in 2015. Eight years later, WCI Consulting Engineers had secured two permits – using the castle moat as the solution – and the hotel is fully compliant.
Summary
- 2015–2023 - eight years from EA enforcement notice to final permit
- 2 permits secured by WCI Consulting Engineers across the project
- Castle moat used as irrigation bed to achieve stringent EA discharge quality
Project in numbers
8 years
From EA enforcement notice to final permit
2 permits
Secured by WCI Consulting Engineers
Overview
Peckforton Castle, described by English Heritage as the only intact Medieval style castle in England, faced EA enforcement action in 2015. WCI Consulting Engineers ultimately resolved an eight-year technical and legal challenge by using the castle moat.
The Challenge
The hotel’s only viable discharge route was to a watercourse over a mile away, across third-party land. A new treatment plant and first permit were in place by 2017, but protracted land easement negotiations collapsed. A whole new scheme and new permit were required – without relying on third-party access.
The WCI Solution
WCI Consulting Engineers took over as lead consultant in January 2018 and secured a new EA permit within two months. When land easement negotiations failed permanently, the team identified the castle moat as the solution – designing an irrigation bed within the moat capable of meeting the EA’s stringent discharge quality requirements. A new permit was granted in early 2023.
The Outcome
Peckforton Castle operates with full EA compliance – a long, difficult journey resolved through technical creativity and persistent effort.
To discuss your project with our Consulting Engineers team, contact WCI today.
Just a brilliant company to deal with from start to finish and even beyond that. Experts in a technical field who are also human are a rarity. Highly recommend them.
Dan Drury
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