Jacobs Mott MacDonald joint venture secures Thames Water technical partner role

Thames Water, the UK’s largest water company has appointed a Jacobs Mott MacDonald joint venture to help deliver a brand-new drought resilience project, known as Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA).

As Technical Partners, the joint venture will lead development proposals for vital new infrastructure to tackle the risk of drought in London.

The appointment follows a comprehensive competitive procurement process under the recently established Thames Water SRO (Strategic Resource Options) Technical Partner Framework, where Thames Water shortlisted Technical Partners that demonstrated extensive experience in developing and supporting large infrastructure projects in the current UK planning environment.

If approved for construction, the nationally significant project will begin operation in 2033, providing up to 75 million litres of water each day during periods of prolonged dry weather.

Tim Hill, UK Water & Environment general manager at Mott MacDonald said: “This appointment is an excellent reflection of the industry leading services we’re already providing to England’s water sector resource planning.

“Our technical expertise is not only helping to shape the development of many of the Strategic Resource Options but also identifying opportunities for wider benefits to be delivered as part of the projects, including biodiversity net gain, positive social outcomes, and improved climate resilience.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Thames Water and Jacobs to deliver sustainable water resources, as well as ensuring the environment and ecology are protected.”

Mohit Farmah, head of procurement and supply chain at Thames Water said: “This project has been deemed of national significance in recognition of its scale and importance to our economy, wider society, and the environment. I have every confidence that this new partnership will support us in protecting and enhancing London’s future water supply, with the joint venture providing world-class knowledge and expertise.”

Kate Kenny, senior vice president at Jacobs said: “As climate change results in more severe droughts that threaten water resources around the world, communities are turning to reuse as a robust water provision solution. We need to recognise that all water has value – using latest innovations means that we can reclaim used water and transform it into a safe, sustainable resource.”

“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Thames Water, working with Mott MacDonald to provide planning, engineering design and Development Consent Order (DCO) expertise to progress a project that enables a resilient, safe water supply for communities."

The new joint venture brings world-class expertise in major infrastructure, including consenting programmes such as Thames Tideway Tunnel. Separately, both organisations have supported the design and delivery of High Speed 2.
The Government’s recent approval of Thames Water’s Water Resource Management Plan paves the way for investment in new water storage and water recycling solutions. The joint venture will now play a pivotal role in ensuring the company is ready to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the TDRA project in 2026. If granted, construction is forecast to begin in 2028.

The South East of England is already one of the driest regions in the UK and is classified by the Environment Agency (EA) as ‘seriously water stressed’. Without the project, London’s water supply remains at risk from the combined effects of climate change and a growing population. By 2050, Thames Water forecasts that it will be supplying water to an additional two million customers in London, up from eight million to 10 million.