Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water appointed four engineering consultancies to a £160 million framework for 2025-30, each worth up to £40 million: Arup, AtkinsRéalis, Mott MacDonald and Stantec. They sit at the front of a "Capable Owner" delivery model, defining the solutions that design and build partners then deliver.
Networks and metering
The company's Water Network Alliance was tendered in August 2024 in two parts: metering, customer appointments and network maintenance, at an estimated maximum of £400 million, and mains rehabilitation at £352 million. Both run for up to eight years, across AMP8 and into the next period. M Group announced on 12 November 2025 that it will deliver progressive and reactive metering across Wales for five years, with up to three more.
Wastewater and specialist work
A separate £276 million Wastewater Network Services framework, advertised on 29 November 2024, is split into five regional lots for repair, maintenance and network operating services over up to eight years. On the capital side, Binnies won a place on the AMP8 Capital Design and Build Framework in October 2024, and Mott MacDonald Bentley announced an AMP8 framework place of up to eight years the same month. Galliford Try holds places on the Major Mechanical and Major Electrical frameworks let in November 2022.
Why it matters
The frameworks are likely to carry much of the company's £4.2 billion capital plan for 2025-30, and Ofwat has raised delivery concerns: water outputs were 23% below baseline in 2025-26 and, although wastewater outputs were 59% ahead, wastewater price control deliverable allowances were 66% underspent and less than 40% of wastewater schemes are expected to be with the supply chain by the end of 2026-27.
How suppliers outside the frameworks can reach the company, what the £600 million Cwm Taf competition involves, and which categories to prioritise first are set out in the full brief. The full report, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water: Utility Account Brief, is available for USD 499. For a free overview, read the Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Utility Snapshot.