Anglian Water published a tender on 4 August 2026 for a major infrastructure consents framework worth about £49 million excluding VAT, split into five lots. Requests to participate closed on 7 September 2026, and an award is expected in February 2027.
What the framework covers
The scope runs from Development Consent Order applications and examinations to planning strategy, environmental services, land and property advice, consultation, transport and post-consent compliance. It sits apart from the company's construction routes, including the £1.5 billion Major Projects Framework awarded in August 2026.
The projects heading for consent
Two reservoirs are the largest consenting tasks. The Fens Reservoir would supply around 250,000 homes through 80 km of new pipelines, with a DCO submission scheduled for 2028 and operation in the late 2030s. The Lincolnshire Reservoir would store up to 55 million m³ for around 500,000 homes; its third-phase consultation launched on 21 October 2026, and it is expected to operate around 2040. Programme management for both sits with a Programme Delivery Partner led by AtkinsRéalis with Mace and Turner & Townsend, under a £1 billion agreement to 2040.
Desalination joins the queue
Two proposed seawater desalination plants, in Lincolnshire and Norfolk, are at early design and site assessment. The technical partners are a Typsa-Stantec joint venture, supported by Acciona, and RSK-GHD, supported by Veolia. Anglian Water has £1.7 billion of supply resilience projects in development, including £800 million for the two reservoirs and the desalination schemes.
Why it is urgent
The company's water resources plan projects a 593 Ml/d daily deficit by 2050 without action, and a hosepipe ban has been in force since 11 July 2026.
Where suppliers should focus first, who already holds major work and what to monitor as the consents framework is awarded are set out in the brief. The full report, Anglian Water: Utility Account Brief, is available for USD 499. For a free overview, read the Anglian Water Utility Snapshot.