BBC MUSIC STUDIOS,
EAST BANK STRATFORD

BBC Music Studios at East Bank is part of the major East Bank regeneration development within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London. The project forms a key component of one of Europe’s largest cultural and educational developments, bringing together institutions including the BBC, V&A East, Sadler’s Wells and UCL East within a new world-class creative district. 

The new BBC facility has been developed as a purpose-built home for the BBC’s live music and recording operations, replacing the historic Maida Vale Studios with a modern, technically advanced broadcast environment designed for future production requirements. The facility accommodates recording studios, rehearsal spaces, production suites and associated technical infrastructure to support a wide range of live music and broadcast activities. 

Designed to achieve high environmental performance standards, the development incorporates advanced building services and sustainability technologies throughout, including a dedicated grey water recycling system to support reduced potable water consumption across the building. 

 

Grey Water Recycling Scope 

A bespoke grey water treatment and reuse system was delivered as part of the project’s wider sustainability strategy, providing treatment and recycling of grey water for non-potable applications throughout the development. 

The system was specifically engineered around the building’s complex vertical infrastructure, constrained plant spaces and highly coordinated MEP environment, incorporating both basement collection infrastructure and roof-level treatment facilities. 

Installed System 

• Grey Water Recycling Plant 
• Treatment Capacity: 10m³/day 
• Treatment Technology: Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) 
• Collection Infrastructure: Basement Collection Sump Tank 
• Main Treatment Plant Location: Roof Level Plant Area 

 

Engineering Solution 

The system utilises a split-level collection and treatment arrangement designed to maximise available plant space whilst maintaining operational efficiency and treatment performance. 

Grey water is initially collected within a dedicated basement sump collection tank where the first stage of the treatment process begins. Aeration is introduced directly within the basement sump tank to promote biological activity, minimise septicity and reduce odour generation prior to transfer to the main treatment plant. 

Following initial aeration, incoming grey water passes through integrated strainers and automatic backwash filtration systems to remove suspended solids and protect downstream treatment equipment. 

From the basement collection stage, duty/standby transfer pumps convey partially conditioned grey water vertically to the rooftop membrane bioreactor treatment plant for secondary biological treatment and membrane filtration. 

The roof-mounted treatment system utilises hollow fibre membrane bioreactor technology to achieve high-quality treated effluent suitable for non-potable water reuse applications within the building. 

 

Treatment Process 

The treatment process was developed to provide a compact, robust and operationally resilient solution suitable for a technically demanding commercial environment. 

Process Stages 

1. Grey water collection within basement sump tank 
2. Initial aeration and biological conditioning within sump tank 
3. Primary solids removal via strainers 
4. Automatic backwash filtration 
5. Transfer pumping from basement to roof-level treatment plant 
6. Secondary biological treatment within membrane bioreactor 
7. Hollow fibre membrane ultrafiltration 
8. Treated water storage and redistribution for reuse applications 

The use of hollow fibre membrane technology enables consistent treated water quality whilst maintaining a compact system footprint — an important requirement within constrained urban plant areas. 

 

Project Engineering Challenges 

The project required careful coordination between architectural, structural and building services disciplines within a highly serviced and acoustically sensitive environment. 

Key engineering considerations included: 

• Vertical transfer of grey water from basement to roof level 
• Integration within restricted plant spaces 
• Coordination with complex MEP services infrastructure 
• Acoustic and vibration control within live studio environments 
• Odour management and operational resilience 
• Accessibility for maintenance and servicing 
• Phased construction and commissioning coordination 
• Compliance with sustainability and water reuse objectives 

Particular attention was given to ensuring the system operated reliably within a building environment requiring exceptionally high standards of operational continuity and acoustic performance. 

 Technical Summary  

Project BBC Music Studios – East Bank 

Location – Stratford, London 

Building Use – Broadcast & Music Production Studios 

Grey Water System Capacity -10m³/day 

Treatment Technology – Hollow Fibre Membrane Bioreactor 

Outcome 

The completed installation provides a compact and highly coordinated grey water recycling solution specifically tailored to the operational demands of a modern broadcast and music production facility. 

By integrating aerated basement collection infrastructure with advanced rooftop membrane treatment technology, the system supports the project’s sustainability objectives through reduced mains water demand, efficient water reuse and long-term operational resilience within one of London’s most technically sophisticated developments.