United Utilities guides to about £11.5 billion of capital investment in 2025–2030, but much of the work is already allocated. In June 2024 it named seven construction delivery partners for about £3 billion of projects and 18 design and build partners for around £2.75 billion.
Who holds the frameworks
The construction delivery partners are C2V (a VolkerStevin and Jacobs joint venture), Costain, Jacobs, Murphy, Kier Integrated Services, Mott MacDonald Bentley and MWH Treatment. AtkinsRéalis, Mott MacDonald and Stantec were appointed design partners in July 2024. In October 2025 nine places on a £205 million reservoir works framework went to firms including AE Yates, Stonbury, Bachy Soletanche and Kier.
The largest single contracts
Cascade Infrastructure, a consortium including Strabag and Equitix, holds the c.£3 billion Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme under an 11-year contract. Arqiva holds the smart metering contract, valued at £630 million excluding VAT, to fit 1 million meters; more than 200,000 were installed in FY2025/26.
Where new suppliers fit
United Utilities does business with around 1,700 suppliers a year and runs regulated procurements under the Procurement Act 2023, through the Central Digital Platform. Spending is rising: net capital expenditure went from £731.4 million in FY2023/24 to £1,499.0 million in FY2025/26, with about £2 billion expected in 2026/27. Not every lot is filled. In 2026 the company awarded only Lot 1 of its water efficiency framework, worth about £4 million including VAT, and did not award Lot 2 for water-saving devices.
Fresh scope may follow Ofwat's December 2026 cost change decision. The August 2026 draft provisionally approved £975 million, according to the company.
How should suppliers approach each framework holder, which programmes are open now, and what should they monitor next? The full report, United Utilities: Utility Account Brief, is available for USD 499. For a free overview, read the United Utilities Utility Snapshot.