Welsh Water Glaslyn Laboratory
Welsh Water’s Cleppa Park facility in Newport is home to a state-of-the-art £10.4m water testing laboratory. Staff at the site carry out over 750,000 biological and chemical analyses annually to ensure safe drinking water for 1.4 million homes and businesses across Wales and Herefordshire. Central Group’s Bristol branch were appointed as Principal Contractor to lead the 2,500m² metal roof repair, carried out while the site remained fully operational.
- Client
- Welsh Water
- Timescale
- 6 months
- Date
- July 2025
- Budget
- £530k
- Project Manager
- Matt Goddard , Bristol
- Project Location
- Newport
After
Before
task
The composite panel roof was in advanced decline, with widespread paint delamination and water ingress affecting building performance and resilience. A drone survey confirmed the extent of deterioration. With the facility playing a vital role in Welsh Water’s £1.4bn infrastructure investment, urgent action was needed. Central secured the contract through competitive tender, with specification developed by URP Profiles and site-specific CAD design handled in-house.
approach
Maintaining uninterrupted lab operations was essential due to the building’s critical function in public health. Central delivered the work in coordinated phases, including scaffold erection, rooflight redesign, and system installation. Subcontractors including Solarsense, URP, Polypac, Sureweld, and D&J Scaffolding were managed onsite to maintain efficiency and minimise disruption.
solution
Central coordinated the phased work of the metal roof repair, incorporating the removal of PV panels before installing the Gemello® Revive R6-C over-clad system, achieving a 0.18W/m²K U-value and backed by a 25-year warranty. The build-up included a VCL, 280mm insulation, and profiled metal sheeting supported by a bar and bracket system.
Custom fabrication was required for the rooflight substructure to alter pitch and ensure compatibility. New Poly-Pac rooflights and Plygene gutters were installed to the latest specifications, improving natural light and drainage performance.
The upgraded roof significantly improves the building’s thermal performance and resilience while supporting Welsh Water’s long-term sustainability goals. The transformation ensures the continued protection of vital testing operations, with the client delivering strong feedback on quality and delivery.