STRABAG consortium wins major UK water infrastructure project from United Utilities
21 August 2025
-
-
- Project worth circa 3 billion GBP
- Upgrade of a 110-kilometre water pipeline system, replacing six tunnel sections totalling around 50 km, across North West England
- Contract covers the finance, design, build and 25 years of maintenance
- STRABAG UK to lead design and construction, strengthening its position in the UK and in water infrastructure
On 3 January 2025, STRABAG SE, the publicly listed European construction technology group, announced that it had been named preferred bidder – together with Equitix – by United Utilities for the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP). Today, STRABAG and Equitix, together with the project partner GLIL Infrastructure, are pleased to confirm that they have reached financial close and have officially been awarded the contract. The consortium partners have formed Cascade Infrastructure Limited, the project company to deliver the HARP project.
The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme is a major infrastructure initiative designed to secure the long-term supply of drinking water for 2.5 million people across Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. At the heart of the project is the upgrade of the 110-kilometre Haweswater Aqueduct, originally constructed between 1933 and 1955, transporting water from the Lake District through Lancashire into Greater Manchester. The project involves replacing six critical tunnel sections of the existing pipeline to ensure its continued reliability for future generations.
The contract covers financing, design, construction and 25 years of maintenance. STRABAG UK will lead the full design and construction scope, with works expected to take around nine years. With an estimated construction cost of circa 3 billion GBP (around 3.5 billion euros), HARP is the UK’s first major Direct Procurement for Customers – DPC model. The project represents a significant investment in the region’s water infrastructure and environmental resilience.
Louise Beardmore, Chief Executive at United Utilities, said: “Making the North West stronger, greener and healthier is at the heart of everything we do. Today marks a significant step to ensure we have the right infrastructure to provide a resilient water supply to communities right across the region for decades to come and, at the same time, creating hundreds of great quality jobs and delivering on the commitments and promises we have set out.”
The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme is a major infrastructure initiative designed to secure the long-term supply of drinking water for 2.5 million people across Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. At the heart of the project is the upgrade of the 110-kilometre Haweswater Aqueduct, originally constructed between 1933 and 1955, transporting water from the Lake District through Lancashire into Greater Manchester. The project involves replacing six critical tunnel sections of the existing pipeline to ensure its continued reliability for future generations.
The contract covers financing, design, construction and 25 years of maintenance. STRABAG UK will lead the full design and construction scope, with works expected to take around nine years. With an estimated construction cost of circa 3 billion GBP (around 3.5 billion euros), HARP is the UK’s first major Direct Procurement for Customers – DPC model. The project represents a significant investment in the region’s water infrastructure and environmental resilience.
Louise Beardmore, Chief Executive at United Utilities, said: “Making the North West stronger, greener and healthier is at the heart of everything we do. Today marks a significant step to ensure we have the right infrastructure to provide a resilient water supply to communities right across the region for decades to come and, at the same time, creating hundreds of great quality jobs and delivering on the commitments and promises we have set out.”
STRABAG has significantly expanded its UK operations in recent years and is currently increasing its local presence. In line with its Strategy 2030, the company is intensifying its focus on water infrastructure and continuing to grow its portfolio of PPP, DPC and concession models. Together with the equity investment in the HARP project, STRABAG’s total equity committed to such projects now clearly exceeds the € 600 million mark. This portfolio currently includes more than 40 projects with a total volume of more than € 13 billion.
