Costain said it is set to deliver even greater efficiency savings to Severn Trent Water, following the extension of Costain’s framework contract with the water company for a further five years.

Costain has been appointed to Severn Trent’s AMP6 2015 – 2020 investment programme.

The contract to carry out upgrades to infrastructure networks and treatment facilities was initially set up in 2009 for five years, with the potential to extend further. AMP6 will be worth an anticipated £50 million per annum to Costain, subject to Ofwat approval of Severn Trent’s business plan. The previous contract, AMP5, was worth £35 million per annum to the Group.

Costain is already working with Severn Trent on preparations for the new contract, said Matt Crabtree, Costain’s Water Sector Director.

“We now have a team working with Severn Trent managing the anticipated AMP6 programme. Previously projects tended to be delivered individually. Early involvement in AMP6 however will allow us to deliver projects in batches, either by location or work type. This will enable us to generate greater efficiencies.”

Simon Cocks, Severn Trent’s Waste Water Services Director said close collaboration was  vital to AMP6  to deliver the future investment programme and the firm needed to work collaboratively as One Severn Trent  across the supply chain. He added:

“We’ve developed successful, long term relationships with all of our supply chain partners and we’re pleased that we can continue to work together as one team to maximise the benefits of these arrangements.”

Collaboration key to major AMP5 upgrade at Severn Trent's largest treatment works

Costain recently completed a major milestone at Severn Trent’s Frankley Water Treatment Works under its existing AMP5 contract with the completion of two major pipework connections as part of Costain’s £20million update of the works. New pipes are now connected to two of the original 120-year-old, 43-inch diameter cast iron gravity mains leaving what is Severn Trent’s largest treatment works.

The complex connections involved pipes lying seven metres deep and located in existing services. The pipes were commissioned in 1894 and made of cast iron with lead joints and their condition was unknown. Months of meticulous planning, preparation and enabling works went into the operation.

Jay Standen, Costain’s Delivery Manager commented

“This was a complex operation that involved the coordination of a multitude of trades and skill sets But thanks to great collaboration between Severn Trent, Costain, MWH, Draper Civil Engineering, Freeflow Pipe Systems, Ainscough and Cemex, the work went without a hitch. “

The connections bring the total successfully completed during the upgrade of Severn Trent’s largest treatment works to nine, with  a further 20 connections of various sizes and complexities remain to be carried out.