Hundreds of jobs will be created after a £3bn deal to upgrade key infrastructure that supplies water to millions of homes in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. United Utilities has signed the deal to refurbish the crucial Haweswater aqueduct, which carries water from Cumbria to 2.5m customers.
The 68-mile pipeline is almost 70 years old and the refurbishment of it has been described as ‘one of the largest water infrastructure programmes across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’. The contract has been awarded to Cascade Infrastructure, a consortium of partners which has experience of delivering similar tunnelling schemes in Europe.
It is the first in the water sector to be delivered through a Direct Procurement for Customers model, which aims to provide better value for customers. Work on the scheme - which will see six tunnel sections replaced, with most of the work happening underground - will start in 2026. Around 1,200 people will be employed at the peak of the programme, including an apprenticeship scheme.
Louise Beardmore, chief executive at United Utilities, said: "Making the North West stronger, greener and healthier is at the heart of everything we do. Today marks a significant step to ensure we have the right infrastructure to provide a resilient water supply to communities right across the region for decades to come and, at the same time, creating hundreds of great quality jobs and delivering on the commitments and promises we have set out."
Water Minister Emma Hardy said: "We are rebuilding the water network from the ground up through one of the largest infrastructure projects ever seen in Britain. In a new era of partnership between government and industry, we are upgrading pipes, tackling sewage spills and safeguarding water security so communities can once again take pride in their rivers, lakes and seas. Investments in projects like the Haweswater Aqueduct will be essential in this effort to secure clean water for future generations."
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: "The Haweswater Aqueduct has served our region well for decades.
"This landmark investment ensures it will continue to do so for generations to come. It's not just about securing the water supplies we need for our city region to grow - it's also about creating jobs, building skills, and delivering long-term value for our communities."
Chris Taylor-Dawson, senior director for major projects and markets at Ofwat said: "This is a huge development for the North West, and the programme is the first of its kind for the sector approved by Ofwat - marking a huge step forward for the water industry as a whole.
"Safeguarding water resilience for generations to come is vital and HARP sets a new standard for innovation and collaboration in the sector. Together we are delivering more than just infrastructure - we are investing in communities, protecting the environment and creating opportunities.''
