Invest in water to kickstart growth
Jacob Robinson-Young, Corporate Affairs Director
| Agilia Infrastructure Partners
From our historic waterways to tomorrow’s reservoirs, water infrastructure is vital for Britain’s economic future. Agilia is helping deliver the new infrastructure solutions we urgently need
Throughout Britain’s history, our waterways have provided transportation, sustenance, and the foundation for economic growth. From the Thames, transforming London into the greatest city in the world; to the coal canals of the West Midlands, giving rise to our second city; to the mouth of the Tees, where steel from Middlesbrough set sail to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Indian Railways.
This ancient relationship between water and economic growth remains just as vital today, though the challenges have evolved dramatically. Climate change, population growth, changing consumption patterns and increasing commercial demand are all impacting our ability to ensure there is a reliable and sustainable water supply.
To put the population challenge into perspective, 150 years ago when Sir Joseph Bazalgette first designed London’s super sewer, the population of London was around 2 million. He built a sewerage system capable of more than double that, but today’s London has almost 9 million people living in it. The only solution to this population boom was new water infrastructure, and developing the Thames Tideway Tunnel demonstrates how we can deliver infrastructure well.
By working closely with Ofwat and using innovative commercial models like the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model, we were able to reduce risk for investors, which brought down the overall project cost and crucially reduced the impact on consumers’ bills. This mega-project is now preventing millions of tonnes of sewage from polluting the Thames, revitalising the river’s ecosystem and reconnecting Londoners with their historic waterway.
The Thames Tideway Tunnel exemplifies how water infrastructure can deliver multiple benefits; environmental improvement, public health protection, and enhanced quality of life; all of which underpin sustainable economic growth.
At Agilia Infrastructure Partners, we understand that water is not merely a utility but the very foundation of sustainable development. Our involvement in landmark water projects across the UK demonstrates our commitment to addressing the nation's most pressing water challenges.
The Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire, being developed by Portsmouth Water to provide resilience for Southern Water customers, represents a watershed moment for the sector as the first major reservoir to begin construction in the UK since the 1970s. This huge project will store over 8.7 billion litres of water and serve more than 160,000 people. Agilia's support to Portsmouth Water has helped navigate the complex planning, environmental, and commercial challenges to bring this crucial project to life.
This reservoir is just one part of the puzzle, with government approval for nine additional reservoirs by 2050, alongside new water transfers and innovative water recycling and desalination schemes. Agilia will be working with Ofwat and the water companies on this collective endeavour to ensure these huge projects can be delivered efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively.
As climate uncertainties increase, this relationship between water security and economic growth becomes ever more critical. Whether it’s the urgent need for more housing in places like Cambridgeshire, or the new water supplies that data centres and nuclear power stations will require, the government's growth agenda and our economic prosperity depend on delivering these complex water infrastructure projects well.
Through our expertise in project development and delivery, and our collaborative approach alongside Ofwat and our clients, we’re helping to ensure that water continues to create thriving communities and boost economic development across the UK, just as it has done throughout our history.
To find out more visit www.agilia.co.uk.
