Thames Water has appointed a Jacobs Mott MacDonald joint venture as its technical partner to lead development proposals for vital new infrastructure to tackle the risk of drought in London.

The partnership gives Thames Water access to an expansive supply chain of technical experts with major infrastructure project experience in engineering, design, environmental assessment, planning, and land access and acquisition.

The appointment as technical partner follows a competitive procurement process under the recently established Thames Water SRO (strategic resource options) Technical Partner Framework.

Thames Water says this is a “pivotal step” as it spearheads plans to safeguard drinking water supplies for millions of Thames Water customers in Greater London.

The water company forecasts that it will need an additional one billion litres of water every day for its customers by 2050.

It is working in partnership with Jacobs Mott MacDonald joint venture to help deliver a brand-new drought resilience project, known as Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA).

If approved for construction, the nationally significant project will begin operation in 2033, providing up to 75 million litres of water each day during periods of prolonged dry weather.

The South-east of England is already one of the driest regions in the UK and is classified by the Environment Agency (EA) as ‘seriously water stressed’.

Thames Water says failure to invest in new infrastructure and solutions could be to the detriment of millions of people, the local environment, and the country’s economy, which is why it is taking action.

Without the project, London’s water supply remains at risk from the combined effects of climate change and a growing population. By 2050, Thames Water forecasts that it will be supplying water to an additional two million customers in London, up from eight million to 10 million.

The Jacobs Mott MacDonald joint venture brings expertise in major infrastructure, including consenting programmes such as Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Separately, both organisations have supported the design and delivery of High Speed 2 and Jacobs is currently providing professional engineering services for the development of the new Kranji Water Reclamation Plant in Singapore.

The Government’s recent approval of Thames Water’s Water Resource Management Plan paves the way for investment in new water storage and water recycling solutions.

The joint venture will now play a pivotal role in ensuring the company is ready to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the TDRA project in 2026. If granted, construction is forecast to begin in 2028.

Mohit Farmah, head of procurement and supply chain at Thames Water, said: “This project has been deemed of national significance in recognition of its scale and importance to our economy, wider society, and the environment.

“I have every confidence that this new partnership will support us in protecting and enhancing London’s future water supply, with the joint venture providing world-class knowledge and expertise.”

Kate Kenny, senior vice president at Jacobs, added: “As climate change results in more severe droughts that threaten water resources around the world, communities are turning to sustainable solutions.

“We need to recognise that all water has value – using latest innovations means that we can reclaim used water and transform it into a safe, sustainable resource.”

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Thames Water, working with Mott MacDonald to provide planning, engineering design and Development Consent Order (DCO) expertise to progress a project that will support a resilient, safe water supply for communities across London."

Tim Hill, UK water and environment general manager at Mott MacDonald, said: “This appointment is an excellent reflection of the industry leading services we’re already providing to England’s water sector resource planning.

“Our technical expertise is not only helping to shape the development of many of the Strategic Resource Options but also identifying opportunities for wider benefits to be delivered as part of the projects, including biodiversity net gain, positive social outcomes, and improved climate resilience.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Thames Water and Jacobs to deliver sustainable water resources, as well as ensuring the environment and ecology are protected.”

The news comes as Thames Water has announced it will make further changes to its proposed London drought resilience project in response to feedback from more than 2,000 people.  

The water company is holding four community information events to share consultation feedback and revised proposals.

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