Thames Water unveils a major £4 billion strategic procurement initiative to modernise and future-proof water and wastewater infrastructure across London and the South East, emphasising long-term partnerships and environmental standards.
Thames Water has initiated a major procurement process to underpin what it describes as a transformative investment programme across its water and wastewater infrastructure, covering Asset Management Periods (AMPs) 8 and 9 through to 20...
Continue Reading This Article
Enjoy this article as well as all of our content, including reports, news, tips and more.
By registering or signing into your SRM Today account, you agree to SRM Today's Terms of Use and consent to the processing of your personal information as described in our Privacy Policy.
35. The initiative involves a substantial £4 billion Major Projects Framework aimed at delivering critical upgrades and enhancements across London and the South East.
The initial phase of this framework, valued at approximately £840 million, encompasses ten capital delivery projects at seven wastewater and two water treatment sites as part of the AMP8 period running from March 2026 to March 2030, with a potential contract extension through to 2035. These projects include significant work at Riverside, Beckton (including sludge powered generator replacements and water asset assurance), Crossness, Didcot, Wantage, Bicester, Hogsmill sewage treatment works, as well as ultraviolet treatment upgrades at Ashford and Hampton water treatment works. Thames Water has already published its Procurement Specific Questionnaire to invite suppliers to begin tendering, with formal bidding anticipated to commence in November 2025. Framework agreements with selected partners are expected to be in place by March 2026.
This long-term framework seeks not only to execute major construction and asset enhancement projects but also to foster sustainable, collaborative partnerships with suppliers. By standardising procurement and reducing repetitive bidding, Thames Water aims to improve efficiency and provide stable delivery pathways to meet the growing demands of population growth and tightening environmental standards.
Tim Horton, Thames Water’s Major Projects and Programmes Director, underlined the scale and ambition of the investment: “We’re embarking on a record £20 billion investment over the next five years to transform our infrastructure, enhance environmental performance, and deliver better services for our customers. Building long-term, collaborative relationships with experienced delivery partners is critical to the success of our AMP8 programme.” Horton framed the procurement milestones and forthcoming bidding process as key steps towards streamlining project delivery and strengthening supplier engagement.
Further details released on related procurement activities reveal Thames Water’s focus on a comprehensive upgrade strategy. Alongside the Major Projects Framework, the company recently concluded a £400 million Asset, Capital, and Engineering Professional Services framework to support various professional service needs such as engineering, environmental, commercial, and programme management functions critical to the delivery and innovation of water treatment works and sewage networks through AMP8.
Industry sources detail that Thames Water is looking to appoint up to eight contractors within this framework to deliver complex civil engineering works, including treatment plant upgrades, new pipelines, and pumping stations. The framework is structured to guarantee each contractor awarded a place at least one project, thereby fostering long-term supplier stability and allowing firms to plan resources and capacity effectively.
The framework period is planned to run initially from March 2026 until March 2033, with a possible extension through to mid-2035, thereby covering both AMP8 and the entirety of AMP9. This approach reflects Thames Water’s strategy of securing continuous improvement in its infrastructure while managing procurement and delivery risk over a protracted period.
Thames Water’s ambitious capital investment plans come amid wider regulatory and environmental pressures on water companies in England to enhance service reliability, reduce pollution, and innovate with infrastructure resilience. Within this context, the shift towards longer-term frameworks and stronger supplier partnerships aligns with broader industry trends seeking more collaborative, efficient, and sustainable project delivery models.
In summary, Thames Water’s Major Projects Framework represents a significant commitment to the future-proofing of critical water and wastewater infrastructure across its operating region. The focus on multi-year collaboration with key delivery partners aims to ensure investment targets are met while balancing operational efficiency and environmental responsibilities, supporting the company’s purpose to deliver essential services for growing communities and thriving natural environments.
Source: Noah Wire Services
