United Utilities has announced the shortlist for the technical advisor role on the £1.75bn Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (Harp).
- The shortlisted candidates include FR JV and partners, Jacobs, and Turner & Townsend Infrastructure.
- Harp represents United Utilities’ largest project since privatisation, focusing on critical pipeline replacements.
- The project will refurbish sections of the 110km pipeline that serves over 2.5 million people.
- Funding will be secured through a direct procurement model, enhancing project efficiency and customer value.
United Utilities has moved forward with its landmark infrastructure project, the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (Harp), by shortlisting three competent parties for the role of independent technical advisor. This critical role involves oversight of the project’s execution, ensuring adherence to cost and quality parameters. Among the shortlisted candidates are FR JV and partners (Fluor and Ramboll), Jacobs, and Turner & Townsend Infrastructure, selected from a pool of strong contenders, each bringing a unique set of skills and experience to the table.
The Harp project, valued at a staggering £1.75 billion, aims to replace and enhance sections of the Haweswater Aqueduct. This pipeline, built from 1933 to 1955, is crucial as it channels water from the Lake District through Lancashire into Greater Manchester, supplying around 2.5 million residents. This refurbishment project is set to be the largest undertaken by United Utilities following their privatisation and is fundamental in ensuring a robust water supply for decades.
This ambitious project entails replacing approximately 50km of tunnels within the aqueduct and establishing new connections to existing multiline siphons. These efforts are crucial for modernising the pipeline infrastructure and securing water supplies against future uncertainties.
Funding and operational delivery of the Harp project will proceed under a direct procurement for customers (DPC) model. This approach mandates that large-scale water infrastructure projects, separate from the existing network, undergo competitive tendering. It is intended to offer enhanced value by leveraging third-party expertise in designing, building, and, in some cases, operating the project. The project’s financing will be recuperated via a surcharge on water bills, enabling effective cost distribution among consumers.
Neil Gillespie, the transformation and strategic programmes director at United Utilities, highlighted the significance of the independent technical adviser. He described this role as pivotal, providing objective oversight, and ensuring the project stays on track in terms of cost and timeline. Gillespie expressed satisfaction over the high calibre of applications for this role, with the next phase involving detailed proposals from the shortlisted parties.
The progression of the Haweswater Aqueduct project marks a significant step towards securing water infrastructure for millions, illustrating effective integration of competitive procurement and expert oversight.
