United Utilities has launched a transformative £3 billion project to overhaul the aging Haweswater Aqueduct, a vital water artery that has served North West England for nearly 70 years. The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP), officially awarded to the Cascade Infrastructure consortium, represents one of the largest water infrastructure schemes ever undertaken in the UK, and marks a new era in how such projects are funded and delivered.
The Haweswater Aqueduct, a 110-kilometer gravity-fed pipeline, has been the backbone of water supply for about 2.5 million people—nearly 5% of England’s population—since it was constructed between the 1930s and 1950s. Carrying roughly 570 million liters of raw water daily from Cumbria through Lancashire to Greater Manchester, the aqueduct’s longevity has been remarkable. But with age comes risk: increasing maintenance needs, the threat of failure, and mounting pressures from population growth and climate change have made a major upgrade unavoidable.
On August 21, 2025, United Utilities announced it had finalized a deal with Cascade Infrastructure, an Austrian-led business consortium that includes Vienna-based Strabag, London-based Equitix (linked to Tetragon in Guernsey), and Local Pensions Partnership Investments Ltd. Strabag UK will lead the design and construction, while Equitix and its partners will help finance and maintain the project. Turner & Townsend has been appointed as the independent technical adviser, providing assurance on programme, cost, and technical certification, while Arup will deliver detailed design work across a broad range of engineering disciplines.
Work is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the main construction phase expected to last about nine years and the full contract spanning 11 years to cover design, construction, maintenance, and financing. At the heart of HARP is the replacement of six tunnel sections, with most of the work taking place underground using state-of-the-art tunnelling techniques. The new tunnel will be built alongside the original structure, with the route passing through the districts of Lancaster, Ribble Valley—including the protected Forest of Bowland—Hyndburn, Rossendale, and Bury, ultimately serving communities in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
The scale of the project is matched by its ambition. HARP is the first in the UK water sector to be delivered through a 'Direct Procurement for Customers' (DPC) model, where the private sector finances and delivers the infrastructure, and customers pay for the asset over time through their water bills, subject to regulatory oversight. According to Ofwat, the economic regulator for the water industry, this model aims to secure lower whole-life costs for customers by bundling design, construction, maintenance, and financing into a single contract. Chris Taylor-Dawson, Ofwat’s senior officer for major projects, called it “a huge development for the North West, and the programme is the first of its kind for the sector approved by Ofwat – marking a huge step forward for the water industry as a whole.”
United Utilities estimates that around 1,200 people will be employed at the peak of construction, with an apprentice recruitment programme designed to develop local skills and ensure the benefits of the project extend beyond its completion. Louise Beardmore, chief executive of United Utilities, emphasized the dual focus on infrastructure and community: “This marks a significant step to ensure we have the right infrastructure to provide a resilient water supply to communities right across the region for decades and, at the same time, creating hundreds of great quality jobs and delivering on the commitments and promises we have set out.”
The project has drawn praise from government and local leaders. Water minister Emma Hardy said, “We are rebuilding the water network from the ground up, through one of the largest infrastructure projects ever seen in Britain. In a new era of partnership between government and industry, we are upgrading pipes, tackling sewage spills and safeguarding water security so communities can, once again, take pride in their rivers, lakes and seas. Investments in projects like Haweswater will be essential in this effort to secure clean water for future generations.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, highlighted the aqueduct’s historical importance and the project’s promise for the region’s future: “The Haweswater Aqueduct has served our region well for decades. This landmark investment ensures it will continue to do so for generations to come. It’s not just about securing the water supplies we need for our city-region to grow. It’s also about creating jobs, skills and delivering long-term value for communities.”
Yet, not all the attention has been positive. The project has prompted debate in the Ribble Valley, particularly regarding the scrutiny of planning applications, the economic and environmental impact of construction sites, and the arrangements for heavy goods vehicle (HGV) transport through rural areas. Concerns have also been raised about road safety around a proposed marshalling yard near Clitheroe and the A59, as well as the extent of community benefits for the borough. With construction set to pass through protected areas like the Forest of Bowland, environmental permits and careful stakeholder engagement will be crucial before tunnelling begins.
For industry partners, the project represents an opportunity to showcase expertise and commitment to sustainability. Catherine Wenger, Arup’s water business leader, stated, “Supporting Strabag UK in delivering HARP is the latest in a long line of essential water projects we are working on across the UK... This fully aligns with our sustainability goals and commitment to shaping resilient infrastructure systems. We are proud to be part of ensuring a secure, clean water supply for communities in Greater Manchester and the North West.” Stefan Kratochwill, CEO of Strabag SE, added, “Expanding our presence in the UK and investing in critical water infrastructure is a clear step in delivering on our Strategy 2030. With HARP, we are not only contributing to the long-term resilience of critical infrastructure, but also strengthening our market position in the UK.”
Andrew Dixon, Strabag UK’s commercial managing director, stressed the importance of community engagement and skills development: “We will deliver this critical infrastructure with our delivery partners, focusing always on best value. In addition to working closely with local communities, we will be creating high quality opportunities for skills development, as well as long-term employment in the North West of England.” James Corrigan, Turner & Townsend’s managing director for UK infrastructure, echoed this sentiment, saying, “HARP is an ambitious and vital project that speaks to the heart of the North’s infrastructure needs. We are proud to be supporting United Utilities on this significant programme and contributing our expertise to safeguard a reliable, long-term water supply for millions of people.”
Preparatory work, including ground investigations and detailed design, is already underway. As the project moves from planning to construction, all eyes will be on United Utilities and its partners to manage the engineering, environmental, and community challenges that lie ahead. The hope is that HARP will not only secure water resilience for generations to come but also set a new benchmark for innovation, collaboration, and value in the UK water sector.
The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme stands as a testament to the region’s ambition, the government’s infrastructure priorities, and the evolving model of public-private partnership. If all goes according to plan, the taps in North West England will keep flowing for decades—while the communities they serve reap the benefits of investment, jobs, and a more sustainable future.
