diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 09141a7..71e14e6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -45,4 +45,6 @@ Adding `.finalize()` method - clears up the directory. Especially useful for DA.
 #### 1.8.1
 - Rename `LumpedCamelsForcing` to `CamelsForcing`
 #### 1.8.2
-- No longer removes config on `finalize`, should be up to user
\ No newline at end of file
+- No longer removes config on `finalize`, should be up to user
+#### 1.8.3
+- Local model: `HBVLocal` also availible in wrapper
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index c6db872..924ea8c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ name = "ewatercycle-HBV"
 description = "Implementation of HBV for eWaterCycle"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
-version = "1.8.2"
+version = "1.8.3"
 authors = [
   { name = "David Haasnoot", email = "davidhaasnoot@gmail.com" },
 ]
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ dependencies = [
 # This registers the plugin such that it is discoverable by eWaterCycle
 [project.entry-points."ewatercycle.models"]
 HBV = "ewatercycle_HBV.model:HBV"
+HBVLocal= "ewatercycle_HBV.model:HBVLocal"
 [project.entry-points."ewatercycle.forcings"]
 HBVForcing = "ewatercycle_HBV.forcing:HBVForcing"
 
diff --git a/src/ewatercycle_HBV/__init__.py b/src/ewatercycle_HBV/__init__.py
index 440840d..b468435 100644
--- a/src/ewatercycle_HBV/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ewatercycle_HBV/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "1.8.1"
+__version__ = "1.8.3"
diff --git a/src/ewatercycle_HBV/model.py b/src/ewatercycle_HBV/model.py
index 304acb9..1e1399a 100644
--- a/src/ewatercycle_HBV/model.py
+++ b/src/ewatercycle_HBV/model.py
@@ -11,8 +11,24 @@
 from ewatercycle.forcing import GenericLumpedForcing
 
 from ewatercycle_HBV.forcing import HBVForcing # Use custom forcing instead
-from ewatercycle.base.model import ContainerizedModel, eWaterCycleModel
+from ewatercycle.base.model import (
+    ContainerizedModel,
+    eWaterCycleModel,
+    LocalModel,
+    )
 from ewatercycle.container import ContainerImage
+from bmipy import Bmi
+def import_bmi():
+    """"Import BMI, raise useful exception if not found"""
+    try:
+        from HBV import HBV as HBV_bmi
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        msg = (
+            "HBV bmi package not found, install using: `pip install HBV`"
+        )
+        raise ModuleNotFoundError(msg)
+
+    return HBV_bmi
 
 HBV_PARAMS = (
     "Imax",
@@ -198,17 +214,18 @@ def finalize(self) -> None:
         """Perform tear-down tasks for the model.
 
         After finalization, the model should not be used anymore.
-
         """
-
         # remove bmi
         self._bmi.finalize()
         del self._bmi
 
 
-
 class HBV(ContainerizedModel, HBVMethods):
     """The HBV eWaterCycle model, with the Container Registry docker image."""
     bmi_image: ContainerImage = ContainerImage(
         "ghcr.io/daafip/hbv-bmi-grpc4bmi:v1.5.0"
     )
+
+class HBVLocal(LocalModel, HBVMethods):
+    """The HBV eWaterCycle model, with the local BMI."""
+    bmi_class: Type[Bmi] = import_bmi()