Thames is seeking technical partners to explore ambitious plans to transfer water from other regional water companies using a new national pipeline network as well as drawing up plans for new reservoirs in the south east.

The plans to encourage the construction of a water network is part of regulator Ofwat’s drive to secure water supplies.

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) involves more than a dozen projects across several water companies including recycling, desalination, transfers between regions and reservoirs that could be started in 2025-2030.

Thames Water’s current portfolio of strategic resources options (SRO) projects includes, the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO), Severn to Thames Transfer (STT), London Water Recycling (LWR) projects, Thames to Affinity Transfer (T2AT) and Thames to Southern Tra transfer (T2ST).

The £300m technical partners framework will support these plans and will be set up in addition to other consultant frameworks the water company runs.

Thames Water intends to award the first work package from the new TP framework agreement immediately following the appointment of framework suppliers.

Interested firms must return PQQs by 28 July. Click here to obtain more details.