Kier Wins £51m Trio of Severn Trent Wastewater Upgrades Under AMP8

Contracts at Droitwich, Warton and Worksop will improve treatment performance, increase network resilience and help meet tougher environmental standards as AMP8 investment gathers pace.

Kier has secured more than £51 million of new work from Severn Trent to deliver major upgrades at three wastewater treatment works as part of the water company's ambitious Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) investment programme.

The contracts cover improvement schemes at Droitwich, Warton and Worksop, with each project designed to enhance treatment performance, strengthen operational resilience and support compliance with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.

The latest awards reinforce Kier's position as one of the UK's leading water infrastructure contractors and continue its long-standing relationship with Severn Trent.

Supporting Environmental Compliance

The projects form part of Severn Trent's wider AMP8 investment strategy, which will see billions of pounds invested in upgrading water and wastewater infrastructure over the next five years.

The schemes will help the utility meet the requirements of the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), including tighter phosphorus discharge limits, increased treatment capacity and improved river water quality.

They have also been designed to accommodate future population growth while improving the long-term resilience of existing wastewater assets.

Droitwich Scheme Targets Phosphorus Reduction

At Droitwich Sewage Treatment Works, Kier will deliver an £11.7 million upgrade focused on reducing phosphorus levels in treated wastewater.

The project includes the installation of new tertiary solids removal facilities, chemical dosing systems and aeration improvements, together with wider process enhancements to enable the site to meet tighter phosphorus consent levels by December 2026.

The scheme also forms part of Severn Trent's wider Green Recovery Programme, aimed at delivering environmental improvements across its operational network.

Capacity Expansion at Warton

A second contract, valued at approximately £12 million, will upgrade Warton Sewage Treatment Works to accommodate increasing dry weather flows associated with future development and population growth.

The works will include new storm balancing facilities, enhancements to activated sludge treatment processes, improvements to sludge handling infrastructure and construction of new final settlement assets.

The investment is intended to increase treatment capacity while improving operational efficiency during both normal and peak flow conditions.

Major Upgrade Planned for Worksop

The largest of the three schemes is the £27 million project at Worksop, where Kier will undertake extensive upgrades across the treatment works.

The programme includes improvements to pumping stations, activated sludge treatment systems, final settlement infrastructure and a range of wider site enhancements designed to improve operational resilience and long-term performance.

The Worksop project follows an extended period of collaborative planning between Kier and Severn Trent, with both organisations working together through an early contractor involvement process to refine the design, improve constructability and identify value engineering opportunities before construction begins.

Collaboration Driving Better Outcomes

Andy Lingham, Managing Director for Water at Kier Infrastructure, said the projects demonstrate the value of early collaboration between clients, designers and contractors.

He said:

"These awards reflect the strength of our relationship with Severn Trent and the collaborative approach both teams have taken through development and early contractor involvement.

"The projects span complex operational wastewater infrastructure upgrades that will support treatment performance, resilience and environmental compliance across multiple sites.

"As AMP8 activity continues to increase across the sector, early engagement between client, design and delivery teams is critical to reducing risk, improving constructability and developing efficient long-term solutions."

Investment in Customers and the Environment

Severn Trent said the investment would deliver lasting benefits for customers, local communities and the environment.

A spokesperson said:

"The huge investment projects we are undertaking with Kier will deliver for our customers, communities and the environment.

"This important work will help improve our network resilience, boost capacity to deal with growing populations and reduce phosphates in the treatment process to further help improve the health of our waterways.

"The three projects show our customers we are investing in the areas they and we care about passionately."

AMP8 Delivery Accelerates

The latest contract awards come as investment across the UK's water sector continues to accelerate under AMP8, with utilities bringing forward major programmes to improve environmental performance, modernise ageing infrastructure and prepare networks for future demand.

The projects will be delivered on live operational treatment works, requiring close coordination between Severn Trent, Kier and design partners to minimise disruption while maintaining essential wastewater services.

Kier currently supports nine major UK water companies, delivering water and wastewater infrastructure improvements through long-term frameworks, alliances and enterprise delivery models. Across the country, the contractor is involved in more than 130 live projects, underlining its growing role in one of the UK's busiest infrastructure sectors.