Anglian Water’s new Strategic Pipeline hits a major delivery milestone as the first section of the pipeline, running between Wherstead and Great Horkesley, near Ipswich and Colchester, will move water to where it’s needed most to secure supplies for Anglian’s growing region.

Earlier this week, on Wednesday 11 March, Anglian Water welcomed Emma Hardy MP and Minister for Water to ‘turn on the tap’ for the Wherstead and Great Horkesley section of the strategic pipeline where water will go into operation through the pipeline for the first time this spring, serving the Ipswich and Colchester region. Emma Hardy MP met with executives from Anglian Water, including Chief Executive Officer, Mark Thurston and Managing Director for Major Infrastructure Delivery, Andy Alder, as well as mechanical, civil and commissioning engineer apprentices.

Anglian’s strategic pipeline is one of Europe’s biggest environmental projects and the most important in Anglian Water’s history. This 27.7km stretch of pipeline between Wherstead and Great Horkesley is part of a multi-million-pound 320km long water network that will stretch from North Lincolnshire to Essex - longer than the M1 – and go into full supply before the end of the decade. 

The complete water grid will allow between 15 and 55 million litres of water to be moved from ‘wetter’ to ‘drier’ parts of the region. Without it, the region’s rapidly growing population and the visible impacts of climate change would mean that water demand would outstrip supply by 2030. The project will also help to protect sensitive ecosystems, including chalk streams, by reducing groundwater abstractions in those areas.

Delivered by the Strategic Pipeline Alliance - comprising partners Anglian Water, Costain, Farrans, Jacobs and Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) - it is the largest drinking water project the UK has seen for a generation. 

The project forms part of Anglian Water’s wider programme of work worth £11bn – its largest ever and almost double that of the previous five-year period. By the end of the decade, Anglian will have completed this phase of its strategic water grid and will be working on extending this further across the region. Anglian will be well advanced in preparing for the construction of two new reservoirs – all of which will create jobs and bolster the local economy, helping the region to thrive.

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive Officer at Anglian Water, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Water Minister, Emma Hardy, to see our progress and learn about the significance of our work. Marking our first operational milestone on the strategic pipeline is a moment of privilege for everyone involved in delivering this environmental project for the communities we serve. We are committed to supporting growth in our region by building for better and delivering major investment in modern, resilient water infrastructure.”

Water Minister Emma Hardy MP said: “This government is committed to securing our water supplies for the future and projects like Anglian’s strategic pipeline are vital for this goal. This major investment will help move water around the region more effectively, strengthening resilience to drought and supporting one of the fastest-growing parts of the country. The skilled staff and apprentices I met today are vital in delivering this impressive project, which is part of the wider £104 billion plan to build new reservoirs, cut leaks and ensure our water infrastructure is fit for the future.”

Andy Alder, Managing Director for Major Infrastructure Delivery at Anglian Water, said: “This is a major step in our journey towards securing water supplies for future generations.  Bringing the first section of the Strategic Pipeline into service has been a monumental partnership effort and part of our ongoing commitment to deliver for our customers and the environment.” 

Harry Bidwell, a Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) engineer apprentice working on the strategic pipeline said: “I’m really enjoying the opportunity to learn while working on one of the country’s largest construction projects. I can link my apprenticeship course to real situations, for example learning how to calculate pump sizes at university and using this knowledge to calculate the correct pumps required for the Anglian Water strategic pipeline site.”

Once the first 320km phase of the pipeline is complete — running from North Lincolnshire down to Essex — phase two will extend even further into Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk, creating a fully connected interconnector system that allows Anglian to move water wherever it's needed most. Eventually the strategic water grid will span 580km across the East of England, helping Anglian keep pace with climate change, population growth, and the pressures that water sources are already facing. 

Anglian Water’s community consultation for the Cambridge to Rede section of the strategic pipeline is now open until 12 April 2026. Read more here.