Anglian Water is preparing a major procurement drive to appoint a single Tier 1 design-and-build partner to deliver around £1.5bn of flagship projects across AMP8 and AMP9. The new Major Infrastructure Delivery Framework represents a decisive move away from the multi-contractor alliance model used on its AMP4 and AMP5 programmes.
Under the revised strategy, one integrated contractor or joint venture will work alongside Anglian’s existing Strategic Pipeline Alliance, @one Alliance and Integrated Operational Solutions alliances. The new partner will be engaged from early contractor involvement through to full design and build, with the freedom to assemble its own Tier 2 supply chain to drive value and innovation on major schemes.
The framework is intended to give Anglian greater flexibility to accelerate delivery as regulatory pressure on coastal water quality increases. The first tranche of work in AMP8 will centre on a £450m Coastal Waters Improvement programme, targeting water discharge performance and resilience.
Ten programme packages, each valued between £15m and £80m, will deliver more than 55 individual schemes. These will span grey and green civils, new process technologies and expanded storage to address storm overflows, sea-level rise and growth hotspots.
Early enhancement projects currently being lined up include schemes at Great Yarmouth (£70m), Southend (£100m), Kings Lynn (£70m) and Boston (£30m). Anglian expects the single-partner model to support more consistent delivery and long-term planning across this portfolio.
Commercially, the framework will be let under NEC4 Option C with open-book pricing, gainshare and incentive mechanisms. It is planned to run for an initial five-year term from July 2026, with the option to extend to a full 10 years subject to performance and business requirements.
Procurement will start in January using a competitive flexible procedure. A capability-focused request for information will be used to shortlist up to four bidders, who will then move to a full request for proposal and interview stage in May.
Contract award is scheduled for July 2026, with phase one projects expected to be allocated before the end of that year. Anglian said the framework is designed to broaden its delivery models and secure a long-term Tier 1 partner ahead of the significant investment anticipated in AMP9.
