The contract is worth £144m and will also see Amey’s team maintaining over 37,000km of gas pipeline, delivering service and meter connections, as well as supporting the client with emergency repairs.

Howard Forster, customer operations director, from Northern Gas Networks said: “Over the next eight years we will be working with Amey, as well as a number of locally based engineering businesses, to replace more than 3,800km of old metal gas pipes with modern plastic equivalents.

“It’s a hugely important undertaking and will ensure that our customers and their future generations continue to benefit from a safe and reliable gas supply.”

The contract award comes just weeks after Amey picked up three separate contracts.

One with the Highways Agency will see Amey manage and maintain over 600 miles of strategic roads across East Anglia. The firm is also in partnership withTransport Scotland to upgrade the motorway network, and has a contract with Welsh Water to deliver water services in South Wales.