Anglian Water has established a new Major Projects Framework with two delivery partnerships - Ferrovial Construction and MWH Treatment will form a joint venture on one contract, while VolkerFitzpatrick and VolkerStevin will take on the second.

The new framework, worth up to £1.5 billion, will complement Anglian Water’s established alliances and provide additional delivery capacity for major projects during AMP8 and beyond.

The water company said the new framework will add specialist major-project capability alongside Anglian Water’s established delivery partners. It will support complex civil engineering, process, mechanical and electrical work and enable delivery teams to collaborate from an early stage in project development.

Andy Alder, Managing Director of Major Infrastructure at Anglian Water, commented:

“This framework is about strengthening our ability to deliver complex infrastructure safely, efficiently and to the highest quality. By bringing design and construction expertise together at an early stage, we can improve productivity, manage complexity and maintain momentum from project development through to delivery.

“Ultimately, success will be measured by the outcomes on the ground: stronger regional resilience, a better protected environment and infrastructure that supports customers and communities for generations to come.”

The next phase of the company’s £11 billion AMP8 investment programme will include more than £400 million of major coastal water improvement projects, alongside further investment to strengthen water resilience and create the infrastructure needed for new homes and businesses.

Protecting coastal waters and supporting local economies

Among the first projects under the new framework agreement will be Anglian Water’s coastal water improvement programme, representing more than £400 million of investment during AMP8. The programme will deliver major projects to reduce storm spills and bacteriological factors impacting coastal waters, bringing further benefits for bathing and shellfish waters along the East of England’s coastline.

Schemes will include catchment-wide, place-based investment programmes in key seaside spots, including Great Yarmouth in Norfolk and Southend in Essex, as well as work in other priority areas such as King’s Lynn, Boston and sites across Suffolk. This work will prioritise nature-based solutions, such as sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), to enable excess flows to be fully treated following heavy rainfall, protecting bathing water quality by preventing storm overflow discharges.

In eight other priority areas – including King’s Lynn, Boston, and several sites in Suffolk – the water company will be investing over £250 million to protect and enhance water quality by reducing storm spills and carrying out bacteriological reductions.

Jason Tucker, Director of Commercial Operations for Anglian Water, said:

“Growth in the East of England depends on having the right water infrastructure in place. That means securing resilient supplies, protecting the environment and creating the capacity needed for new homes, businesses and nationally significant projects.

“Our £11 billion investment programme is already moving at pace, and this next phase will see us progress some of the largest and most complex projects we have undertaken. It will deliver tangible benefits for customers and communities, from further improvements to coastal water quality to stronger, more resilient networks.

“The scale of AMP8 means we are significantly expanding the portfolios of our established alliances while also bringing in additional specialist capability. The new Major Projects Framework gives us the extra delivery power needed to turn our ambitious plans into infrastructure on the ground.”

Building momentum behind an £11 billion investment plan

Delivery is already well underway on Anglian Water’s landmark £11 billion business plan. In the first year, the company invested £1.1 billion and worked on more than 1,100 capital projects, more than double the annual delivery rate achieved during AMP7.

Major projects, including its strategic interconnecting water grid to secure future water supplies, made progress, while 140.5km of new water mains and more than 316,000 smart meters were installed. The year 2 programme – which will be Anglian’s largest annual investment in its history at £1.6 billion – is now well underway, thanks to the mature and well-resourced capital delivery arrangements in place.

Adding specialist capability for major project delivery

Ferrovial Construction UK & Ireland is part of Ferrovial, a global infrastructure company that has delivered some of the UK and Ireland's most complex infrastructure schemes. MWH Treatment is an industry-leading provider of sustainable engineering solutions and a trusted partner for the design, build and optimisation of critical non-infrastructure assets across the UK water sector. By combining VolkerFitzpatrick’s multidisciplinary construction and civil engineering experience with VolkerStevin’s specialist infrastructure expertise, the partnership will provide an integrated approach to the delivery of complex water infrastructure projects.

The framework will cover a diverse mix of work, including Civil engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control and Automation (MEICA), Green and traditional Civil engineering and Process technology.

This initiative is being delivered outside Anglian Water’s existing delivery routes to protect current delivery capacity and introduce additional capability for AMP8 and beyond. The framework will enable Early Contractor Involvement, fostering collaboration from the outset and ensuring efficient, cost-effective delivery.

Alastair Dick, Managing Director for Ferrovial Construction UK & Ireland, said:

“We are delighted to have been appointed by Anglian Water to support the delivery of this important programme alongside our partner MWH Treatment. This framework represents a significant opportunity to help build the resilient water and wastewater infrastructure the East of England needs to support growing communities, strengthen environmental protection and enable long-term economic growth.

“Combining Ferrovial's global water expertise with a proven track record of delivering some of the UK's most complex infrastructure programmes, we look forward to working collaboratively with Anglian Water and MWH Treatment and expanding our presence in the UK water industry to provide innovative engineering solutions that deliver lasting benefits.”

Paul Bresnan, MWH Treatment Chief Executive, added:

“This is a significant appointment for MWH Treatment and a proud moment for everyone who has helped build our relationship with Anglian Water over many years.

"Anglian Water's investment programme will help improve coastal water quality, reduce storm spills and create the infrastructure needed to support future growth across the East of England. The benefits of that investment will be felt by communities for years to come.

"The scale of the challenge is significant and the projects are complex, but that's exactly where our strengths lie. Together in partnership with Ferrovial, we have the people, experience and capability to deliver. We're proud to have earned Anglian Water's trust and excited to play our part in delivering this important programme.”

James Hindes, VolkerWessels UK Board Director, said the appointment reflects the strength of the collective expertise and the value created by collaboration across the VolkerWessels UK businesses.

“By bringing together the complementary capabilities of VolkerFitzpatrick and VolkerStevin, we are well positioned to support Anglian Water in delivering resilient, sustainable infrastructure that will benefit customers, communities and the environment. We look forward to building a strong, long-term partnership with Anglian Water", he added.