United Utilities has signed an agreement for a £3bn overhaul of the crucial Haweswater Aqueduct, that carries water from Cumbria to 2.5 million customers in Greater Manchester and Lancashire –nearly 5% of England’s population.   

In January the STRABAG Equitix Consortium was named preferred bidder for the work, which is part of the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme, or HARP.

STRABAG and Equitix, together with the project partner GLIL Infrastructure, have now reached financial close and have officially been awarded the contract. The consortium partners have formed Cascade Infrastructure, the project company to deliver the HARP project.

The contract covers financing, design, construction and 25 years of maintenance.

The original 110km pipeline, is approaching its 70th birthday, was a major feat of engineering when it was originally built. It uses gravity to carry 570 million litres of water every day to customers and businesses across Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, that’s nearly 250 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

As part of the programme to upgrade and improve the region’s strategic water network, this new contract paves the way for one of the largest water infrastructure programmes across the UK, creating hundreds of jobs in the region.  

The programme is the first in the water sector to be delivered through a Direct Procurement for Customers model to provide best value for customers. It covers the design, construction, maintenance and financing of the scheme.

Construction will get underway in 2026 and will see six tunnel sections replaced with most of the work happening below ground using the latest tunnelling techniques.

As well as securing supplies for millions of customers, the project will bring a range of economic benefits to the region. Around 1200 people will be employed at the construction peak with an apprentice recruitment programme to help build and secure skills for the future.

Louise Beardmore, chief executive at United Utilities, said: “Making the Nort-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 added: “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.”

Stefan Kratochwill, CEO of Strabag SE, said: “Expanding our presence in the UK and investing in critical water infrastructure is a clear step in delivering on our Strategy 2030. With HARP, we are not only contributing to the long-term resilience of critical infrastructure, but also strengthening our market position in the UK.”