Case study · Water and Utilities
Severn Trent Water
Draycote Reservoir signage refresh
Following Carsington, Severn Trent commissioned the same approach for Draycote Water — visitor centre wayfinding, perimeter safety signage, and operational area markers.
180
Signs delivered
4 weeks
Survey to handover
6 mile
Perimeter coverage
£0
Re-design cost (system from Carsington)
The challenge
Draycote Water is a working reservoir with significant water-sports use. Existing signage was inconsistent and the safety signage around water access points needed upgrading to current BS EN ISO 7010 standards. Severn Trent wanted to replicate the success of the Carsington refresh.
What we did
Same approach as Carsington adapted for Draycote's site layout. Survey, system design, manufacture, install — but compressed to 4 weeks because the design language and material specifications were already proven. Aluminium composite externals, engraved aluminium for accessibility signage.
Following the Carsington Reservoir refresh, Severn Trent's facilities team commissioned a similar treatment for Draycote Water — a working reservoir near Rugby with significant water-sports use and a visitor centre.
The brief was effectively "Carsington for Draycote" — replicate the system that worked, adapted to the different site layout. The main efficiency gain: the design system, material specifications, and BS EN ISO 7010 safety signage range were already approved, so the project compressed to 4 weeks.
What we delivered
Visitor centre directional and accessibility signage. Perimeter safety signage at every water access point. Operational area identification (treatment works, fishing lodge, water sports centre). Two new monolith totems at the main entry points. 180 signs in total, manufactured in 2 weeks and installed across one long weekend.
What changed
Severn Trent's water-sports operator has noted that visitor wayfinding queries to the activity desk dropped after the refresh. Safety auditing of perimeter signage now passes without recommendations.
Why the second project was faster
The investment in design system + material specifications on Carsington paid back on Draycote. We didn't need to re-derive the system, source new materials, or run separate accessibility audits. The 6-week Carsington timeline halved to 3-4 weeks for Draycote.
"Once we had the system from Carsington, applying it to Draycote was straightforward. Direct Signs handled the survey and adaptation. The result is consistent across our two main visitor reservoirs."
Sarah Mitchell
Facilities Manager, Severn Trent Water
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