South West Water has named its delivery partners for 2025-30 to carry out its £2.3 billion infrastructure investment plan.
The company will work with Bam Nuttall, Clancy, Mott McDonald Bentley, Tilbury Douglas, MWH Treatment and Network Plus Envolve.
Across the water sector, capital expenditure is set to be several times greater than current spending in the next asset management period (AMP8).
Regulator Ofwat has raised concerns that the industry and its supporting supply chain may not be ready to deliver on ambitious plans over the period.
South West has proposed building treatment works and reservoirs as well as maintaining or upgrading its existing assets.
Water and sewerage companies have committed to driving down the number of discharges from storm overflows as well as tackling nutrients pollution from effluent.
The company said the consortium had already begun work for projects outlined its the AMP8 plans including on storm overflows, bathing water quality and boosting the region’s resilience to climate change.
Chief executive, Susan Davy, said the alliance will turn South West’s investment plan into a reality.
“We’re already tackling the challenges customers care about most, and by working with our supply chain partners, we will also be creating jobs and supporting the local economy across the greater south west,” Davy said.
The engineering firms form part of South West’s Amplify framework and will be supported by Stantec, Long O Donnell, Turner & Townsend, Aecom, ChandlersKBS, Arcadis, Pell Frischmann, Stantec, and WSP.
A further 10 local companies will be added to the alliance next month.
AMP8 proposals will require companies to deliver more than has previously been managed in any five year period. Experts and the regulator have said this will add pressure to supply chain partners, which may not have adequate capacity to undertake the work.
South West has ploughed efforts into boosting resilience to drought across its region.
The dry summer of 2022, coupled with a high influx of holiday makers, left the company’s reservoirs at record low levels. The company responded by adding supplies and storage including converting disused quarries into reservoirs.