Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) has named five partners on new frameworks to help improve delivery of capital investment projects.

NWG will work with the newly-appointed partners over the coming months to explore how improvements can be made to the management of infrastructure, co-creating new-look capital delivery processes and plans.

Stantec and Jacobs were named as NWG new strategic technical partners, as well as lead commercial consultants Turner & Townsend, with support from Aqua Consultants and Long O’Donnell Associates.

The appointments, made following a competitive tender process, will create frameworks for the next eight years of work.

Working together with NWG, the new partners will comprehensively examine the complete life cycle of assets to ensure smarter spending and risk-based planning for the long-term, at what is a critical time for the industry, as Kate Kenny, Jacobs people & places solutions senior vice president, explains.

“As water issues intensify, so does the need for long-term integrated, smarter water management decisions across the complete asset life cycle," she said.

“We’ll be working with Northumbrian Water Group to challenge current approaches and explore alternative ways to help them maintain a sustainable and resilient business, provide best service to customers, and realise long-term goals around zero carbon and nature-based solutions.”

NWG's new partners will challenge existing methods and investment choices, allowing for a greater focus on alternative options, including the potential to reduce carbon through nature-based solutions to water and wastewater treatment.

Monisha Gower, assets director at NWG said the firm recognised the need to evolve how it does business to deliver the best possible value for customers in challenging times – and the partnerships will help to challenge NWG, over the future of its capital plan and processes. 

“We also see a huge opportunity for greater sustainability and reduced carbon in our asset base by looking at our business through a TOTEX [total expenditure] lens,” she said.

“While we have already made steps towards these goals, the appointment of our strategic and commercial partners brings expertise and experience to the table, and will really help shape the future of our asset management, investment planning and delivery.

“We look forward to working with them to co-create this exciting future.”

Scott Jackson, Stantec’s UK&I regional business lead, water, said its appointment signified another great win for the firm, at the start of the AMP8 campaign. 

“Increasing the long-term reliability and resilience of our water and wastewater networks while lowering costs for domestic and business customers is key to ensuring sustainable development within communities,” he said.

“I look forward to Stantec supporting Northumbrian Water’s vision and delivery of its capital programmes throughout AMP8, using our detailed technical understanding of the UK water sector paired with cutting-edge thinking from around the world.”

Maire Lenihan, Stantec’s UK&I operations director, will be working as the framework manager throughout the partnership. 

She said: “We are proud to keep strengthening our successful working relationship with Northumbrian Water. 

“At Stantec, we have always been passionate about supporting our water sector to improve efficiency throughout its networks, while building resilience against tomorrow’s challenges. We are looking forward to a new period of collaboration with Northumbrian Water and our framework partners.”

David Whysall, UK Infrastructure managing director at Turner & Townsend, spoke of the new pressures facing the water industry in the UK, from changing rainfall patterns and new demands on the network to responding to strengthened environmental protections.  

“These are seismic challenges, requiring a rethink in how the sector approaches investment and ultimately manages its assets,” he said. 

“This strategic appointment offers us the platform to drive this change through a long-term and collaborative approach – transforming performance on affordability, customer experience and the reduction of carbon emissions.”

Turner & Townsend have worked with Northumbrian Water for twelve years and Whysall added the firm was “delighted to be able to further build on our special relationship” while continuing to invest in the local community creating the opportunity for home grown talent.