Thames Water has taken a significant stride towards enhancing its infrastructure with the launch of a £840 million project focused on upgrading nine water and sewage treatment sites across London, Surrey, Oxfordshire, and Hertfordshire. This initiative forms an integral part of the company’s broader £20 billion investment plan spanning 2025 to 2030, marking a period of unprecedented capital deployment aimed at improving water quality, reducing pollution, and increasing bioenergy production.
To kickstart the process, Thames Water has published a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN), inviting potential contractors to participate in these vital projects. The company aims to finalise framework agreements with selected suppliers by March 2026, laying the foundation for collaborative partnerships that will support both the current and future phases of this extensive programme, covering AMP8 (2025-2030) and AMP9 (2030-2035).
The scope of work includes comprehensive upgrades of wastewater and water treatment plants. Among the key sites targeted are Riverside Sewage Treatment Works, Beckton Sludge Powered Generators replacement, Beckton Sewage Treatment Works Water Asset Assurance Programme, Crossness Sewage Treatment Works, Didcot, Wantage, Bicester, and Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Works. Water treatment enhancements will feature ultraviolet treatment upgrades at Ashford and Hampton Water Treatment Works.
Tim Horton, Thames Water’s Major Projects and Programmes Director, emphasised the programme’s critical role in reinforcing infrastructure resilience and environmental performance. Speaking about the engagement, he highlighted the company’s commitment to reducing unnecessary bidding efforts and fostering long-term, collaborative relationships with trusted delivery partners who share Thames Water’s ambition.
Janine Browne, Interim Commercial & Procurement Director, described the Major Projects Framework as a strategic move to accelerate landmark projects through stronger, lasting supplier partnerships. This framework is designed not only to streamline procurement but also to encourage innovation and deeper collaboration across the supply chain.
Thames Water’s investment marks a nearly doubling of infrastructure expenditure compared to previous periods, reflecting an urgent response to rising demand and regulatory pressures to enhance environmental outcomes. The upgrades aim to boost capacity at key sites, ensuring a more robust water supply and sewage treatment network capable of meeting future challenges.
By actively engaging the market at this early stage, Thames Water is seeking feedback to refine commercial terms and foster efficient working relations, demonstrating a pragmatic and inclusive approach to project delivery.
This significant investment underscores Thames Water’s dedication to delivering essential infrastructure improvements that will benefit both customers and the environment over the coming decades, while signalling the company’s intent to build a sustainable and resilient water system for the future.
Source: Noah Wire Services
