Galliford Try Wins £47.5m Upgrade Contract at Camberley Sewage Works

Major investment aims to boost treatment capacity, improve environmental compliance and strengthen resilience at a Thames Water site that previously attracted national attention over persistent odour complaints.

Galliford Try has secured a £47.5 million contract from Thames Water to deliver a significant upgrade programme at Camberley Sewage Treatment Works in Surrey, as the water company continues efforts to improve the performance and resilience of its wastewater infrastructure.

The Camberley Sewage Treatment Works Flow Compliance Project will modernise key elements of the existing facility, increasing its capacity to manage wastewater flows while helping the site meet increasingly stringent environmental standards.

The project follows extensive early contractor involvement by Galliford Try, with the company's engineering specialists developing the outline design before progressing to the detailed design stage.

Construction will focus on enhancing the site's existing inlet works, primary settlement tanks and storm protection infrastructure. The scheme also includes converting currently unused tanks into additional stormwater storage, providing greater resilience during periods of heavy rainfall and reducing pressure on the treatment process.

Alongside these civil engineering works, the contract includes the installation of new motor control centres, standby generators, pumping stations and extensive above- and below-ground pipework.

The investment comes three years after the facility attracted widespread public attention when residents complained of persistent foul odours, leading to the site being described as a "cess-pit" during local reporting in 2023. At the time, Thames Water apologised to nearby communities affected by the smells and acknowledged the impact on local residents.

Galliford Try said the award demonstrates the value of integrating engineering, design and construction expertise from the earliest stages of project development.

Mark Shadrick, Managing Director of Galliford Try's Environment Business, said the contract reflected the collaborative relationship that had developed between the contractor and Thames Water.

"We are proud to have secured the Camberley project, reflecting the strong partnership we have developed with Thames Water and the benefits of working collaboratively to address some of the industry's most pressing environmental challenges.

"We look forward to delivering this vital infrastructure, improving resilience and compliance while creating a positive legacy for the communities it serves."

The project forms part of wider investment across the UK water sector as utilities seek to increase treatment capacity, reduce the likelihood of storm overflows and improve compliance with environmental regulations amid growing public and regulatory scrutiny.

For Galliford Try, the award further strengthens its position within the regulated water sector, adding another major wastewater infrastructure project to its expanding environmental portfolio.