Anglian Water has outlined its largest-ever year of investment for the East of England, as it embarks on the first of a major five-year programme of work, totalling almost £11 billion.
By 2030, the water company will double the investment into its region’s environment, continue its work developing a ‘water grid’ of new pipelines to feed the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, protecting them from future shortages. During AMP8 Anglian Water will further develop plans for two new reservoirs in Lincolnshire and the Fens to supply water to nearly three quarters of a million people.
Work will also continue to improve the region’s resilience to the risk of flood and drought, help protect rivers and coastline from the effects of climate change and support the rapidly growing population and local economy by creating thousands of new jobs.
2025 - a £2 billion-plus investment programme for a growing region
The next 12 months alone will see Anglian Water begin the programme, with more than £2 billion spent across the region. Around half of this will be spent on new schemes, with the remaining amount going towards maintaining the company’s existing network and operations. To fund this, average customer water bills are expected to be £626 for the year, or just £1.72 per day.
The East of England includes the country’s four fastest-growing cities: Milton Keynes, Northampton, Peterborough and Cambridge, and is set to see more than 720,000 new residents over the next 20 years.
The water company’s plans are intended to ensure it can remain ahead of these pressures.
Following on from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ growth speech, the company also welcomed key stakeholders, developers and industry experts from across the region at its recent Investing in a Thriving East conference in Peterborough, with the aim of sharing cross-industry perspectives on how sustainable growth can be achieved in one of the UK’s most challenged regions.
Anglian Water’s Director of Customer and Wholesale Services, Don Maher, said:
“Our programme of investment for this five years and beyond is transformational. It’s unlike anything seen for hundreds of years, since the sewer system in London was first built. It is critical to support our growing region, keeping customers’ taps running and toilets flushing in the face of unprecedented challenges from population growth and climate change. We’re really proud to have set out a robust, ambitious plan – one of the largest in the country – that will help the East of England to grow and thrive.”
Keeping bills affordable
Alongside this investment, the company’s plans include an £80 million package of support for vulnerable customers. This will help those in difficult circumstances and at risk of being in water poverty to get the financial support they need, including for the first time, a discounted tariff for those with certain medical needs.
Don Maher continued:
“We do all we can to keep bills affordable, but delivering a plan of this scale means that water bills will rise this year. Over the next 12 months we’ll be helping more than 300,000 people by putting together packages of support that are tailored to meet their individual needs.”