Costain has secured a three-year extension to its Managed Service Provider contract with United Utilities, extending a water sector partnership that began in 2019.
The agreement means Costain will continue supporting capital maintenance delivery across United Utilities’ water, wastewater and bioresources operations during the AMP8 investment period.
The framework covers a high volume of capital maintenance projects across the North West of England, alongside a reactive, round-the-clock maintenance service across United Utilities sites.
The latest extension takes the partnership to the full ten-year term of the contract.
Capital maintenance across the North West
Costain’s role includes engineering and construction delivery, asset optimisation, project management and procurement support. The company will continue delivering replacement, refurbishment and upgrade services across United Utilities’ operational estate.
Since the framework began, Costain says its team of more than 120 professionals and engineers has supported the delivery of more than 900 capital maintenance projects and around 9,000 responsive maintenance activities.
The company also says the work has helped United Utilities meet more than 160 key regulatory commitments ahead of schedule.
“We’re a long-term, trusted partner to United Utilities and this latest extension is testament to our track record of delivering predictably and consistently,” said Matt Bateman, Water Sector Director at Costain.
The maintenance contract sits within a wider period of investment for United Utilities. The water company is progressing its Big North West upgrade, including a £13.5 billion investment programme for 2025-2030 and further proposed investment to support regional growth.
AMP8 delivery and network resilience
United Utilities’ AMP8 programme includes major spending on water and wastewater infrastructure, with a focus on resilience, environmental performance and capacity for future demand.
Costain is also part of the United Utilities Enterprise, a separate AMP8 framework covering upgrades to water and wastewater treatment sites, pumping stations and reservoirs.
“Across the North West of England, we’re working closely with United Utilities and our local supply chain partners to build critical resilience into the region’s water and wastewater infrastructure,” Bateman said.
John Welch, Commercial Director at United Utilities, said the extension would support the delivery of the company’s most ambitious programme to date.
“Putting this partnership in place enables us to continue working at pace across the North West to deliver the transformation that we know our customers want to see,” Welch said.
The contract extension reinforces the role of long-term delivery partnerships in the UK water sector as companies move through AMP8, a five-year regulatory period expected to involve significant investment in asset renewal, environmental performance and storm overflow reduction.
FAQs
What contract has Costain extended with United Utilities?
Costain has secured a three-year extension to its Managed Service Provider contract with United Utilities.
When did Costain first begin working with United Utilities under the MSP contract?
Costain was first appointed as United Utilities’ Managed Service Provider in 2019.
What work does the framework cover?
The framework covers capital maintenance projects and responsive maintenance across United Utilities’ water, wastewater and bioresources operations in the North West of England.
How many projects has Costain delivered under the framework?
Costain says its team has supported more than 900 capital maintenance projects and around 9,000 responsive maintenance activities to date.
How does the contract relate to AMP8?
The extension supports United Utilities’ AMP8 capital maintenance programme, which forms part of the company’s wider investment in water and wastewater infrastructure from 2025 to 2030.
