This will begin with the water company’s biggest ever business plan for AMP8 between 2025 and 2030 which, if signed off by Ofwat in December, will be worth £10bn.

The successful tenderer for the estimated £1bn framework deal through to 2040 will need to bring extensive experience in portfolio, programme and project management to deliver major complex infrastructure programmes.

It is one of the largest contracts of its type offered to date in the water industry, presenting a unique opportunity for a strategic partner to work across Anglian Water’s entire, wide-ranging capital investment programme.

The PDP will work in a fully integrated and collaborative way with Anglian Water to deliver this programme, as well as its subsequent business plans for the following decade.

Andy Alder, managing director for Major Infrastructure Delivery, said: “We’ve put collaboration at the heart of our delivery strategy for more than twenty years, through our industry-leading alliancing models, and we’re excited to take it to the next level with this new strategic partnership.

“We already know that working collaboratively across the value chain helps drive consistency, efficiency and innovation so that we can deliver the best value for money for our customers and protect the environment that we work in.

“This Programme Delivery Partner will help us roll out this approach across our whole capital programme, which is vital to help us deliver what’s set to be our biggest investment ever into our region.”

As well as existing water infrastructure upgrades, Anglian Water’s spending plans includes developing two new reservoirs and their associated infrastructure in Cambridgeshire (the Fens Reservoir) and Lincolnshire (the Lincs Reservoir).

A framework launch event will be held online on Thursday 21 November at 9am. Interested firms will need to pre-register here.

Shortlisted candidates will move to full tender phase early next year, with a contract due to be awarded in summer 2025.