Anglian Water today issued a tender notice for a Major Projects Framework, a contract worth up to £1.5 billion of investment to deliver environmental protection and improvements.  The first projects under this framework agreement will include the water company’s AMP8 (2025-2030) coastal water improvement projects valued at over £400 million, which involves major projects to reduce storm spills and bacteriological factors impacting coastal waters. The Framework is also intended to be used for subsequent major projects in AMP8 and AMP9, including  enabling growth and environmental improvements.

Part of Anglian Water’s £11 billion plan for AMP8, this new framework will work across its investment programme,  forming part of Anglian Water’s wider commitment to building Britain’s future through resilient water and water recycling infrastructure.

The company’s coastal waters programme will deliver environmental improvements and allow local coastal economies to thrive, supporting jobs and skills development, and long-term growth by improving the quality of bathing and shellfish waters along  the Eastern England’s coastline. Schemes include a blend  reducing surface water, increasing storage and installing disinfection processes.

Schemes will include catchment-wide, place-based investment programmes in key seaside spots, including Great Yarmouth in Norfolk and Southend in Essex, with nature-based solutions, such as sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Across both catchments, over £150 million will be invested to capture 190 million litres – or nearly 32 million toilet flushes’ worth – of excess flows during heavy rainfall so they can be fully treated, protecting bathing water quality by preventing storm overflow discharges.

In eight other priority areas – including King’s Lynn, Boston, and several sites in Suffolk – the water company will be investing over £250 million to protect and enhance water quality by reducing storm spills and carrying out bacteriological reductions.

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”.

Delivering an £11 billion plan for AMP8

Delivery is already well underway on Anglian Water’s landmark £11 billion business plan, its largest ever, with more than half of this year’s planned investment already underway Since April 2025, construction teams have broken ground on more than 850 capital delivery schemes, and significant progress has been made on its commitments to customers. Pipelaying on the entire southern section of its Strategic Pipeline is now complete, with all 127 kilometres  in the ground, and its industry-leading smart meter programme continues at pace, with more than 60% of customers (1.3 million households) connected and able to monitor their water usage and save money through their smart meter. Preparations for the year 2 programme – which will be Anglian’s largest annual investment in its history at £1.6bn – are also well advanced, thanks to the mature and well-resourced capital delivery frameworks in place.

The East of England region is home to four of the fastest growing cities in the country, as well as nationally-significant projects such as the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, Sizewell C and the proposed Universal Studios theme park in Bedford. Successful delivery of these and other projects will require major investment in modern, resilient water infrastructure.

Boosting Anglian’s alliancing model

Anglian Water is seeking two framework partners, which could be design-and-construct organisations or a joint venture of capable partners with proven experience in delivering portfolios of magnitude. The successful bidders will bring a robust and innovative supply chain, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. The framework will cover a diverse mix of work, including Civil engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control and Automation (MEICA), Green and traditional Civil engineering and Process technology.

This initiative is being delivered outside Anglian Water’s existing delivery routes to protect current delivery capacity and introduce additional capability for AMP8 and beyond. The framework will enable Early Contractor Involvement, fostering collaboration from the outset and ensuring efficient, cost-effective delivery.

Andy Alder, 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.”

The tender process will commence at the start of February, with the contract set to be awarded in July, and Anglian Water looks forward to engaging with organisations that share its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in infrastructure delivery.