Anglian Water has gone out to tender with a major AMP8 contract for major infrastructure planning and consents support, and advisory services with an estimated value of £58.8 million including VAT.

The water company is seeking support in the development of its current and future major infrastructure programmes with the following activities:

a) Strategic Consenting Advisory: advice on local and national planning policy, planning routes including in particular Development Consent Order (DCO), consenting strategy, development phase risk management and assurance of the planning development and preparedness for Examination (progressive and independent).

b) Consenting Leadership & Management: Leadership of the projects consenting pathway and across a multi-disciplinary team throughout the pre-application and examination phases in accordance with relevant National Policy Statements, Planning legislation, associated guidance and relevant local policies. Strategic engagement with Local Planning Authorities, planning application for survey and early enabling works and assessment/ monitoring of overlapping planning applications.

c) DCO Application & Examination Management: project and production management of the suite of DCO documents and deliverables integrating content across multi-disciplinary team, ensuring robust definition of deliverables and production management through the review and approval process aligned to schedule. Project and production management for the pre-examination and examination phases ensuring Anglian Water adheres to all procedural and statutory requirements.

d) Specialist advisory services: support for specialist topics including Traffic & Transport planning case development and assessment; regulatory and consenting advice/support aligned to coastal and marine permits, coastal and marine consents application support.

e) Stakeholder and consultation strategy and delivery: expert support for the development and execution of non-statutory and statutory consultation with a range of stakeholders ensuring legal compliance, risk mitigation and reputation management.

f) Land and property support and advisory: land agency, referencing, access for surveys, consultation engagement, expert compulsory purchase advice and management associated with DCO planning applications.

g) Environmental Services: expert advisory, strategy development, risk management, assurance and support in specialist areas such as Habitat Regulations Assessment. (The Page 3 to 18 delivery of Environmental Impact Assessment is procured under Anglian Water's Programme Delivery Partner).

h) Post-consent Support: Discharge of requirements, compliance monitoring in the delivery phases and variation management.

The contract is being tendered in the following Lots, each of which will be separately assessed and separately awarded.

Lot 1. DCO Strategy, Leadership and Management

Sub-lots:

a) Strategic Consenting Advisory

b) Consenting Leadership and Management

c) DCO Application Project and Production Management

Lot 2. Planning Strategy, Leadership and Management

The Service categories are split into planning services for projects being progressed as follows:- Sub-lot 2a for Development Consent Order (DCO) and 2b for Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA):

Lot 3. Environmental & Advisory Services

The Service categories are split into the following Sub-lots:

Environmental Consenting Advisory

Environmental Leadership and Management

Specialist Transport Planning Advisory

Lot 4. Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation

The Service categories are:

Strategic Engagement Planning and Compliance

Stakeholder Identification and Management

Consultation and Engagement Delivery

Technical and Community Engagement

Risks and Issue Management

Reporting and Governance

Lot 5. Land and Property

The Service categories are:

Project Management & Governance

Land Referencing

Statutory Consultation Support

Landowner & Stakeholder Engagement

Negotiation of Voluntary Agreements

Compulsory Acquisition Support

Cost Estimating & Budget Management

Valuation & Compensation Assessments

Agricultural Liaison & Accommodation Works

Survey Access Management

Post Consent & Pre Construction Support

Current estimated start and end contract dates for Lots 1 to 4 are 25 February 2027 to 31 January 2031 with further possible extension options to 31 January 2035. For Lot 5, current estimated start and end contract dates are 25 February 2027 to 31 January 2031 with further possible extension options to 31 January 2037.

Deadline for submission of enquiries about the tender is 11:00pm on 19 August 2026 and deadline for requests to participate is 11:00pm on 8 September 2026. Estimated contract award decision date is currently 12 February 2027.

The procurement process consists of the following stages:

Stage 1: Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)

1A - PQQ written responses

1B Engagement Request written responses

Stage 2: Invitation to Tender (ITT):

2A – ITT written responses

2B – ITT Bidder Interviews

2C – Best and Final Offer (BAFO)

Stage 3: Contract Award

Click here to access the tender documents and other associated documents on the Ariba procurement portal.