Anglian Water (AWS) is planning to host a Market Launch Event for the Fens Reservoir Strategic Resource Option (SRO) in June - the event forms a key part of the company’s market engagement strategy and marks a significant milestone for this critical national infrastructure project.

AWS is encouraging parties to register their interest for the Event that will take place on Monday 29th June 2026 in London. 

The market engagement offers an opportunity for the programme and the wider supply chain to connect and formally initiate market engagement, which will be sustained until procurement activities commence. The event will provide the supply chain with further insight into the programme's requirements, building on information already publicly available.

“The Reservoirs Programme signifies a significant investment in the UK's water resilience and environmental protection and the supply chain is a critical stakeholder group for this programme,” the water company says.

AWS's Water Resources Management Plan 2019 (WRMP19) identified the Fens Reservoir (FR) as one of its Strategic Resource Options. The reservoir will be delivered to the benefit of both AWS and Cambridge Water (CWC) customers.

Image: Fens Reservoir, artist's impression 

The reservoir and its associated assets (abstraction, treatment and transfers) are being progressed through the fast-tracked delivery framework overseen by the Regulators' Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID), and each is proposed to be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) seeking consent through the Development Consent Order (DCO) regime.

Due to the size and complexity of the programme, Specified Infrastructure Project Regulations (SIPR) is the preferred delivery model for the reservoirs. SIPR is a mechanism for an alternative approach to financing and delivering large and complex water and sewerage infrastructure projects.

Under SIPR, the Secretary of State (SoS) or Ofwat (under delegation from the SoS) may specify an infrastructure project for delivery under a "project licence" by a third party where certain conditions are met.

Image: Fens Reservoir schematic 

The Fens Reservoir at a high-level comprises the following infrastructure:

• Abstraction Intake Structures, and raw water transfers (open channel and pipelines);
• Inter-catchment treatment works for invasive, non-native species (INNS);
• Reservoir embankment, inlet/outlet tower, emergency drawdown, public facilities
• Water Treatment Works providing wholesome treated water; and
• Pipeline Transfers to supply (AWS and CWC) service reservoirs.

Anglian Water says the commercial and procurement strategy for the Main Works Contracts (MWCs) has significantly evolved over the last 12 months following periods of initial early market engagement, with a focus on refining the procurement approach, packaging options and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) strategy. AWS is now ready to share preferred plans to the market and obtain feedback to help further refine the approach prior to planned

The water company is emphasising thatparticipation or non-participation in this market engagement event will not influence the selection and/or award decision-forming part of any future procurement process.

Current estimated start and end contract dates are 1 April 2031 to 31 March 2038.

The event will take place on 29th of June at The Stables, MYO King's Cross, London N1 9AB.

AWs says the event is designed to foster early conversations, test assumptions and interest and highlight the significant opportunities ahead. The insights obtained from the supply chain will be invaluable in helping AWS shape the future of the programme.

AWS is inviting interested parties to complete an online registration form to register their interest in attending the SRO Fens Reservoir Market Launch Event and return it by 9th June 2026.

Due to capacity restrictions at the venue interested parties can register up to five guests, two as primary attendees and three as secondary attendees. Registration for attendance at the event is at the discretion of Anglian Water and does not guarantee a place at the event. Formal notification regarding the outcome of registration will be issued in due course.

Non-participation in the Reservoirs Programme's market engagement activities will not prevent any supplier from participating in any future procurement.

Click here to access the online registration form

Anyone experiencing any problems using the registration link are asked to email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for assistance.

In addition, any organisation wishing to express interest in the Reservoirs Programme can do so at any time prior to the procurement phase by contacting the above email.

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