Water Company Set For Two Major Yorkshire Projects

Yorkshire Water has announced a £2.8 billion pipeline of work based on two framework deals for projects around the county.

Among these may be significant concrete reinforcement work in Yorkshire Water facilities such as large water distribution networks and sewer pipes, as the firm seeks to maintain, modernise and develop its infrastructure.

As Construction Enquirer reports, the work will take place over ten years and one of the key benefits will be a large reduction in cases of water overflowing into natural watercourses.

Work will take place over the AMP8 regulatory period, which lasts from April 2025 to March 2030, but this could be extended further into the APM9 period, which runs to 2035.

The new work will be added to the £1.5 billion being spent by Yorkshire Water via its partners in the Non-Infrastructure Framework over the ten-year period on various minor works. The overall figure includes £1.3 billion through The Stormwater Overflow Alliance, including £500 million in the APM8 period and £800 million in APM9.

At least one design consultant and three contractors will be included in the Stormwater Overflow Alliance, with the stated aim being to work with Yorkshire Water to develop solutions to problems and then construct them.

The process of seeking partners is now underway, with pre-qualifying questionnaires due to be submitted by August 11th, bidders being shortlisted in October and successful bidders being appointed by July 2024.

Yorkshire Water’s announcement comes at a time when water and sewerage companies across the country have come in for fierce criticism over spillages of sewage into natural watercourses and the sea.

Earlier this year, campaign group Top of the Poops named Yorkshire Water as one of the worst offenders for sewage spills in 2021.

Analysing government data, it noted that two of the ten worst-affected rivers were the Calder (2nd overall) and the Aire (8th worst).