Anglian Water has awarded the technical contract to develop its two upcoming desalination plants, in Lincolnshire and Norfolk, to the TYPSA-Stantec with an estimated value of £29 million.

The proposed plants are designed to support the company’s long-term strategy to secure resilient water supplies for its region, which is the driest part of the UK.

TYPSA-Stantec is a joint venture (JV), supported by Acciona Agua, which has been awarded the role of Primary Desalination Technical Partner (DTP), working with Anglian from January 2026. They will be joined by a Secondary DTP, RSK-GHD JV, supported by Veolia. This marks a major milestone in the company’s plans to address future water challenges.

The £29 million partnership brings together world class expertise in engineering and infrastructure, ensuring that Anglian Water has the best technical support as it progresses this critical and new initiative.

In its 2024 Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP24), Anglian Water identified significant challenges for the East of England, primarily due to a forecast reduction in available supply of potable water and an increase in the demand forecast. Without intervention, a daily shortfall of 593 megalitres (Ml) of water is estimated by 2050, which equates to approximately half of the current volume of water entering the network.

As a result, two desalination plants have been identified as part of the Adaptive Plan to address the shortfall in Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

Seawater desalination is a relatively new technology within the UK water industry, and the two proposed new plants will be the first of their kind in the Anglian Water region. The plants will work by abstracting seawater from the North Sea, using pre-treatment, reverse osmosis and remineralisation, before blending treated water into supply. Brine waste will be dispersed via a long sea outfall.

The Desalination Technology Partnership (DTP) will give Anglian Water access to global expertise and cutting-edge innovation in desalination, helping us upskill its teams in an area that’s new to the UK water sector. It also enables the company to build strategic relationships for future projects and strengthen resilience through a two-partner framework.

As part of the collaboration, the DTPs will provide the technical expertise needed to deliver the programme. This includes design and engineering, optioneering, site selection, planning and consenting, as well as support for estimating, programming, and constructability assessments. They will also assist with land acquisition and regulatory engagement, ensuring the programme is robust and future-ready.

Kate Cassalli, Head of Programme Development for Anglian Water, said:

“This is an exciting next step in our plans for desalination, and we’re really pleased to be welcoming TYPSA-Stantec and Acciona as our Primary Partner, along with RSK-GHD JV and Veolia as Secondary Partner.

“Seawater desalination is a fairly new technology for the UK water industry, so our partners’ technical expertise will be vital in progressing these plans. With Stantec’s record as the top design and engineering consultant for the UK water sector, and TYPSA’s position as Europe’s leading desalination consultant, we’re confident that we’ve got the right expertise supporting us as we take on this new challenge.”

Scott Jackson, Stantec’s regional business lead for Water in the UK and Ireland, commented:

“Our collective UK and global experience in desalination, strategic resource options, and advanced treatment methods are unparalleled in this market.

“Having led the way in Europe’s desalination market for some time, TYPSA is the perfect partner for us as we design and deliver these world-leading plants that will benefit communities across the East of England for generations. I’m incredibly excited to show Anglian Water the strength and breadth of our offering throughout this AMP and beyond.”

Javier Olazabal, TYPSA UK Managing Director, added:

“Stantec are the number one design and engineering consultant for the UK’s water sector, and we’re proud to share our unique technical insight and desalination expertise as part of this exciting joint venture. Together, we will support Anglian Water in delivering resilient, future-proofed water infrastructure for the communities that need it most.”

As the Primary Partner, TYPSA-Stantec – working together as a joint venture, supported by Acciona – will be awarded the scope of work for both proposed sites. The Secondary Partner, RSK-GHD JV, supported by Veolia, will play a vital role in strengthening the overall framework by providing resilience and continuity.

The contract, which is worth up to £29 million, will start from January 2026 and last for five years, with the option to extend for a further five years at the end of the initial term.