The company is seeking a main contractor for a job worth £5.7bn
Whoever is selected for the Thames Water reservoir contract will work on a project with a projected capacity of 150bn litres.
The new reservoir is a part of the nine new reservoirs promised by the government to improve the nation’s water security.
The project will supply Thames Water, Southern Water, and Affinity Water
Projected to be completed by 2040, the contract will include the design, planning, excavation, and embankment construction of the reservoir and the laying of new pipeline connections which will require their own planning approval.
Bids are open until 24 April, with the shortlist of firms expected to be made later this year.
Chris Weston, chief executive of Thames Water said: “The reservoir represents one of the most significant investments in water infrastructure the country has seen in decades.
“Once built it would be one of the largest in the country, providing water to millions, supporting new homes and development, and creating an exciting new destination where people can unwind and connect with nature.”
Ben Goodwin, director of policy & public affairs for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), said: “Coming on the back of this week’s water white aper, this announcement shows the step-change the UK infrastructure sector is engaged in in reforming our water sector, building capacity for the future, and delivering for communities.
“CECA members stand ready to play a central role in delivering this complex and strategically vital scheme, and we look forward to working with Thames Water, regulators, and government at all levels to ensure that procurement, planning, and delivery frameworks enable the scheme to be delivered on time and on budget.”
First new reservoirs built since the ‘90’s
In May last year, the government announced that the first two reservoirs in decades are to be built, with nationally significant status having been granted in advance.
The government has been warned that, without infrastructure overhauls, the growth of the UK population and decline of older infrastructure mean the UK could have no clean water by 2035. Therefore, new legislation means that water infrastructure like the two new water reservoirs will automatically gain nationally significant status.
Thousands of homes in areas such as Cambridge and North Sussex haves been unable to start construction due to concerns with water scarcity. These reservoirs and ones to be proposed will tackle this and allow those homes to be built.
At the time, water minister, Emma Hardy, said: “Today we are backing the builders not the blockers, intervening in the national interest and slashing red tape to make the planning process faster to unblock nine new reservoirs.
“This Government will secure our water supply for future generations and unlock the building of thousands of homes as part of the Plan for Change.”
