UNITED Utilities wants to construct a new building and water drain to help control possible flooding from one of their East Lancashire reservoirs.

The company says the construction works are necessary 'in the unlikely event of an emergency'.

The proposal is for the Dean Clough Lower Impounding Reservoir off Goldacre Lane near Great Harwood.

A design and access statement supporting the application for planning permission to Hyndburn Council says: "The proposed development consists of construction of a building situated between the pathway and stone wall boundary just inside the reservoir perimeter .

"Dean Clough Lower is an earth-fill embankment reservoir that is used to provide storage for public water supply.

"It was formed by the construction of an earth embankment across the Dean Brook and is the lower reservoir in a cascade of two dams, with Dean Clough Upper reservoir immediately upstream.

"A new fixed facility to drain the reservoir down by five metres over a five day period in the unlikely event of an emergency has been assessed as the correct solution to mitigate risk.

"The works will involve below ground pipework and chambers with a control building located at the top of the dam.

"Due to the location and nature of the works all pipework will be buried or submerged.

"It is not possible to locate the building adjacent to an existing one as it needs to be located at the highest point in the pipework so there only limited locations.

"To minimise the visual impact the building will be constructed using a pre-finished stone effect building in keeping with the natural stone colours of the area and of the existing building."