Kier has been selected to deliver upgrade works at three Severn Trent wastewater treatment sites as part of the utility's AMP8 investment programme, in a package worth more than £51m. The contracts cover schemes at Droitwich, Warton and Worksop.

The programme is designed to lift treatment performance, bolster storm capacity and strengthen operational resilience across Severn Trent's wastewater network. It forms part of a broader wave of AMP8 spending across the UK water sector aimed at meeting tighter environmental obligations, enhancing process efficiency and expanding capacity within existing assets.

The projects are aligned with requirements under the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), including tougher phosphorus and discharge permits, anticipated population growth and measures to improve the long-term health of rivers.

At Droitwich Sewage Treatment Works, a c.£11.7m scheme targets enhanced phosphorus removal through tertiary solids separation, chemical dosing and aeration upgrades, alongside wider process improvements. The works are intended to help the site meet a tighter phosphorus consent by December 2026 and form part of Severn Trent's Green Recovery programme.

At Warton Sewage Treatment Works, Kier will deliver c.£12m of upgrades to increase capacity for higher dry weather flows driven by future catchment growth. The scope includes new storm balancing infrastructure, enhancements to the activated sludge plant, improved sludge treatment facilities and new final settlement assets.

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The c.£27m Worksop project comprises upgrades to pumping stations, activated sludge treatment processes and final settlement infrastructure, together with broader site improvements. The scheme follows an extended period of collaborative development and early contractor involvement by Kier and Severn Trent, including constructability reviews and value engineering during pre-construction.

Andy Lingham, managing director for Water at Kier Infrastructure, said: "These awards reflect the strength of our relationship with Severn Trent and the collaborative approach both teams have taken through development and early contractor involvement. The projects span complex operational wastewater infrastructure upgrades that will support treatment performance, resilience and environmental compliance across multiple sites. As AMP8 activity continues to increase across the sector, early engagement between client, design and delivery teams is critical to reducing risk, improving constructability and developing efficient long-term solutions."

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: "The huge investment projects we are undertaking with Kier will deliver for our customers, communities and the environment. This important work will help improve our network resilience, boost capacity to deal with growing populations, and reduce phosphates in the treatment process to further help improve the health of our waterways. The three projects show our customers we are investing in the areas they and we care about passionately."

Delivery will be managed in close collaboration between Severn Trent, design partners and Kier's project teams, with a focus on constructability, keeping treatment works operational during construction and efficient execution on live sites.

These awards add to Kier's broader role in AMP8, where it is supporting major water companies through long-term frameworks, alliances and enterprise delivery models across the UK. The business currently works with nine major water companies nationwide, delivering water and wastewater upgrades, network maintenance and major capital programmes across more than 130 live projects.