Southern Water is initiating a significant infrastructure project requiring a £50M technical partner contract.
- The scheme entails an 85km pipeline to transfer water from Thames Water to Southern Water in Hampshire, costing over £2.3bn.
- Construction is slated for 2030-2035, with a prior information notice already issued for interested bidders.
- The chosen partner will oversee multidisciplinary tasks, including planning, community engagement, and project management.
- This project is part of a larger UK water infrastructure initiative, aiming for improved connectivity and resilience.
Southern Water seeks a technical partner to embark on an ambitious water transfer project involving a pipeline stretching 85 kilometres. This major endeavour will connect water resources from Thames Water’s catchment area to Southern Water’s domain in Hampshire, anticipated to cost upwards of £2.3 billion. The project, which is set to be constructed between 2030 and 2035, underscores the critical nature of resource management.
To aid this endeavour, Southern Water is advertising for a multifaceted partner with proven expertise in developing and delivering designs for sizeable and complex infrastructure projects. The successful bidder, expected to fulfil the role of principal designer and contractor under the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015, will coordinate diverse phases of the project, from ground investigations and DCO planning to engineering technicalities and community engagement.
Notably, the project entails ground investigations, assessment of technical feasibility, production of procurement-ready designs, and analyses of transportation impacts. Integral to this are community engagement efforts to foster local support, alongside meticulous land access planning and referencing, ensuring all legal facets are comprehensively addressed.
Set as one of over 20 significant infrastructure projects in the UK water sector scheduled to start within the eighth asset management period (AMP8) from 2025 to 2030, this initiative necessitates funding via a direct procurement for customers model. Such an approach mandates that these substantial projects undergo competitive tenders, enabling third-party management to ensure cost-efficiency.
Furthermore, the project awaits the development of supplemental water resources, specifically the Severn to Thames Transfer or the South East Strategic Reservoir, which are vital precursors. This phased and strategic approach is a testament to the intricate planning and alignment with Ofwat’s regulatory frameworks, including the Rapid gated system aimed at expediting the Development Consent Order process.
Southern Water’s partnership initiative is pivotal in advancing the UK’s water infrastructure resilience and connectivity.
