Anglian Water has launched a procurement for a major projects framework worth up to £1.5bn covering design and construction work intended to reduce pollution and improve water services across eastern England.

The water company is inviting bids for a framework agreement that will appoint up to two delivery partners to provide early contractor involvement, design, construction and commissioning services across both its water and water‑recycling business streams. The successful bidders must demonstrate the capacity to manage a wide range of work – from civil engineering and MEICA (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation) to process technology and nature‑based solutions – and to mobilise an appropriate supply chain.

First contracts to be let under the framework will target coastal water improvements in AMP8 (the 2025–30 investment period), with projects valued at more than £400M. Anglian Water says those schemes are intended to cut storm overflows and tackle bacteriological issues that affect bathing and shellfish waters along the east coast. Planned works include measures to reduce surface water runoff, increase storage capacity and install disinfection processes.

Specific location programmes named include catchment‑wide, place‑based schemes in Great Yarmouth and Southend. Anglian Water estimates it will invest over £150M across both catchments to capture about 190M litres of excess flow during heavy rainfall – the company compares that volume to “nearly 32M toilet flushes” – so the flows can be fully treated rather than being discharged.

In eight other priority areas, including King’s Lynn, Boston and several Suffolk sites, Anglian Water plans to spend more than £250M to reduce storm spills and improve bacteriological water quality.

The procurement sits within a larger AMP8 programme that Anglian Water describes as an £11bn plan, where delivery is already underway: since April 2025 it has started more than 850 capital schemes, completed 127km of its Strategic Pipeline southern section and connected over 60% of its customers to smart meters. Anglian Water also points to regional growth pressures – such as the Oxford–Cambridge corridor, Sizewell C and proposed developments including a Universal Studios theme park near Bedford – as drivers for increased investment in resilient water infrastructure.

Tender timelines state the enquiry deadline as 24 February 2026 and the deadline to request to participate as 4 March 2026, with an award expected in July. The framework’s initial term is five years from around July 2026, with an option to extend by up to a further five years, taking the maximum potential duration to around July 2036 – through AMP9.

Anglian Water says the new framework will sit outside some of its existing delivery routes to preserve current capacity while adding extra capability for AMP8 and AMP9. The company is seeking partners able to operate in an alliancing model and to bring innovative supply chains to manage a diverse portfolio of major projects.

Jason Tucker, director of commercial operations for Anglian Water, said: “Britain’s future depends on water. It is water that turns on the taps of prosperity – in homes, communities, businesses, and the industries that will drive our economy forward. This framework is another step towards building the resilient infrastructure our region needs to thrive. It will deliver cleaner coastal waters, and support the growth that communities across the East of England deserve.

“Over the past 20 years we have nurtured a mature supply chain with incredible partners, delivering billions of pounds of investment in successive AMPs. This new framework will bring on new expert partners, alongside our Programme Delivery Partner (PDP) and existing delivery routes, such as our industry-leading @one alliance, Strategic Pipeline Alliance and Integrated Operational Solutions (IOS) Alliance, to ensure we have the highly specialist delivery skills required for these coastal schemes.”

Andy Alder, Anglian Water managing director of major infrastructure, said: “We are excited to launch the procurement of our new Major Projects Framework. This framework has been designed to enable collaboration across design and construction, bringing together partners with major project delivery experience and technical capability needed to deliver complex, high value projects across the water sector. At its heart are the principles that matter most to us: uncompromising safety, exceptional quality, and improved productivity at every stage. Above all, this is about delivering with purpose—ensuring the outcomes we create strengthen our region’s resilience, protect our environment, and support the long-term needs of the communities we serve.”

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