United Utilities has signed a landmark agreement to refurbish the Haweswater Aqueduct, a crucial pipeline supplying water from Cumbria to 2.5 million customers in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

The original 110km aqueduct, approaching its 70th anniversary, was a major engineering feat when it was built. Using gravity alone, it delivers 570 million litres of water daily across Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

The new programme marks one of the largest water infrastructure projects in the UK and is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the region. With an estimated construction cost of around £3 billion, the project will be delivered by Cascade Infrastructure, a consortium of partners with extensive experience in European tunnelling schemes.

-- Advertisement --

This initiative is the first in the water sector to be delivered through a Direct Procurement for Customers model, covering design, construction, maintenance, and financing, ensuring best value for customers. Construction is set to begin in 2026 and will see six tunnel sections replaced, with most work taking place underground using advanced tunnelling techniques.

The programme is expected to employ around 1,200 people at peak construction, supported by an apprentice recruitment initiative to develop long-term skills in the sector.

Louise Beardmore, Chief Executive at United Utilities, said: "Making the North West stronger, greener and healthier is at the heart of everything we do. Today 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 to come and, at the same time, creating hundreds of great quality jobs and delivering on the commitments and promises we have set out."