The latest episode of The Engineers Collective podcast turns the spotlight on Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, exploring how the long-running partnership has reshaped project delivery in the water sector. Anglian Water delivery director for water Paul Lonsdale joins host Rob Hakimian to discuss how the model has evolved over two decades and why it is now seen as a benchmark for collaborative working.
The @one Alliance brings together eight partner organisations: Anglian Water, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, Mott MacDonald Bentley, MWH Treatment, Skanska and Sweco. Over 20 years, this structure has been used to drive efficiency and consistency across major capital schemes, with the alliance format credited for enabling integrated planning, shared risk and streamlined delivery.
Lonsdale explains how combining multiple contractors and consultants within a single alliance operates day to day, and what it means for governance, decision-making and programme control. He outlines the benefits of drawing on a broad pool of technical expertise, from design and construction through to treatment process and asset optimisation, within one delivery vehicle.
The conversation also looks beyond @one to Anglian Water’s wider portfolio of alliances and frameworks. Lonsdale and Hakimian examine why alliancing has become a dominant procurement and delivery approach in the UK water industry, particularly in the context of long-term regulatory cycles and the need for repeatable, scalable solutions.
In the introductory segment of the episode, Hakimian is joined by senior reporter Thomas Johnson to reflect on recent site visits. These include trips to 3D printing facilities and to National Grid’s new Tilbury to Gravesend power tunnel, providing additional insight into how digital tools and major infrastructure programmes are progressing across the wider construction sector.
