Anglian Water's @one Alliance
From £1.2bn to £3bn: How Anglian Water’s @one Alliance is reshaping infrastructure delivery through Place-Based Thinking
From £1.2bn to £3bn: How Anglian Water’s @one Alliance is reshaping infrastructure delivery through Place-Based Thinking
As the UK water sector transitions into AMP8, the scale, pace and complexity of investment is accelerating rapidly. Regulatory expectations are increasing, environmental standards are tightening, and customers are demanding more resilient and sustainable services. Against this backdrop, delivery organisations are being challenged not only to do more, but to fundamentally rethink how they operate.
For Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, this shift has been both immediate and transformational. Moving from AMP7 into AMP8, the Alliance has expanded its capital delivery programme from approximately £1.2 billion to £3 billion, an increase that goes far beyond incremental growth. This represents a step change in both scale and ambition, requireing a new approach to how infrastructure is planned, coordinated and delivered.
Rather than scaling existing models, the Alliance has used this moment to fundamentally restructure its operating model, moving away from traditional delivery silos towards a more integrated, outcomes-focused approach, built around holistic solutions which resolve multiple drivers within the whole catchment – they call this Place-Based-Thinking
Moving beyond traditional delivery models
Historically, infrastructure delivery within the water sector has been organised around asset types and functional disciplines, water versus water recycling, infrastructure versus non-infrastructure. While this model has enabled specialisation, it has often resulted in fragmented planning, duplicated effort and inefficiencies across programmes.
Recognising these limitations, the @one Alliance has transitioned to a simplified structure built around three core pillars: Water, Water Recycling, and Place-Based Thinking. This shift is designed to break down silos and create a more cohesive delivery environment, one that reflects how infrastructure systems operate following the capital works.
At its core, this new model is about integration. It brings together treatment, networks and environmental investment into unified programmes, enabling teams to plan and deliver work in coordinated and strategic way.
From projects to catchments: the rise of Place-Based Thinking
The most significant element of this transformation is the adoption of Place-Based Thinking (PBT), a delivery philosophy that focuses on geographic areas, or catchments, rather than individual projects.
Under this approach, multiple investments within a defined area are planned and delivered as part of a single, integrated programme. This allows delivery teams to consider the interdependencies between assets, optimise sequencing of work, and develop solutions that deliver the greatest overall benefit.
The scale of the Place-Based programme is substantial, representing approximately £750 million of investment across AMP8 on behalf of Anglian Water. This encompasses a combination of major schemes and multi-catchment initiatives, including significant upgrades at Water Recycling Centres such as Whitlingham, Bedford and Flag Fen in Peterborough.
In addition, several key geographic areas have been identified for targeted investment, including Cotton Valley, Colchester, Wymondham and Ipswich. With each of these locations bringing together a range of interventions across treatment, networks and environmental improvements, delivered through a single, coordinated approach.
Alongside these place-based schemes, the wider programme includes catchment-focused investment across bioresources, nutrient removal, storm management and network resilience.
Together, these programmes represent a fundamental shift from isolated project delivery to a holistic, system-wide approach.
Restructuring for scale and accountability
To enable this new way of working, the @one Alliance has restructured its delivery organisation, moving from six teams to five, each aligned to programme outcomes rather than traditional asset categories.
The revised structure includes dedicated leadership across Bio-Resources, Nutrient Removal, Large Treatment, Storm & Networks, and a standalone team for the Whitlingham programme, reflecting its size and complexity. This streamlined model is designed to improve consistency, strengthen accountability and ensure that delivery teams are aligned to the outcomes they are responsible for achieving.
A key principle underpinning this structure is the alignment of teams to catchments based on the scale and complexity of the work. Rather than distributing projects across multiple teams, each catchment is managed by a single, integrated team with end-to-end responsibility. This approach fosters greater ownership, improves coordination and enables more effective decision-making at a local level.
In parallel, all work within certain programmes, such as Anglian’s sludge treatment centres is being brought under a single team, further enhancing efficiency and consistency.
New digester’s delivered at Whitlingham Water Recycling Centre
Unlocking efficiency through integration
One of the most immediate benefits of Place-Based Thinking is the ability to unlock efficiencies across multiple schemes. There are many instances where a single solution can effectively resolve multiple drivers. This cordination of interventions within the same geographic area, the Alliance is able to reduce duplication in design, streamline approvals and optimise construction activity.
This “multi-scheme” approach allows for more efficient mobilisation of resources, better sequencing of work and reduced time on site. Whilst also, supporting a more proactive approach to planning. By considering the needs of an entire catchment, teams can identify opportunities to address multiple challenges through a single intervention, avoiding the need for future rework or redesign.
Early indications suggest that this integrated approach is already delivering measurable improvements in cost efficiency, programme certainty and carbon performance. By reducing unnecessary redesign and re-engineering, the Alliance is not only saving time and money but also contributing to more sustainable outcomes.
Supporting better environmental and long-term outcomes
When we are developing solutions for the whole catchment the ability to pinpoint the best location for new assets is possible, minimising disruption to the local community, loss of bio-diversity, and the ability to bring improvements to our neighborhoods.
Beyond efficiency gains, Place-Based Thinking is enabling a more holistic approach to environmental management. By aligning investment across treatment, networks and natural systems, the Alliance is better positioned to deliver improvements in water quality, nutrient management and ecological resilience.
This is particularly important in the context of increasing regulatory focus on catchment-level outcomes. By planning interventions at this scale, the Alliance can ensure that investments are targeted where they will have the greatest impact, both in terms of compliance and environmental benefit.
Furthermore, the model supports greater consistency in long-term planning. By integrating programmes and aligning them to geographic areas, the Alliance can develop more coherent strategies for asset management and future investment.
A blueprint for the future of infrastructure delivery
As the water sector and infrastructure industries more broadly, face growing pressure to deliver larger, more complex programmes, the experience of the @one Alliance offers valuable insights.
The transition from £1.2 billion to £3 billion has demonstrated that scaling delivery is not simply a matter of increasing capacity. It requires a fundamental shift in how organisations are structured, how programmes are designed, and how teams are empowered to deliver.
Place-Based Thinking provides a framework for making this shift. By aligning around geography, integrating across disciplines and focusing on outcomes rather than outputs, organisations can unlock new levels of efficiency, collaboration and value.
For the wider industry, this approach challenges traditional models of delivery and highlights the importance of adaptability in the face of change. As investment programmes continue to grow and expectations continue to rise, those organisations that embrace integrated, catchment-led approaches will be better positioned to succeed.
Ultimately, the @one Alliance’s transformation is not just about delivering a larger programme, it is about redefining how infrastructure delivery is approached. In doing so, it is helping shape a more connected, efficient and sustainable future for the water sector.
For More Information, contact us at https://anglianwatercareers.co.uk/one-alliance/
Civil Engineer
Apply NowJoin the @one Alliance – a collaborative partnership of eight industry‑leading companies (Anglian Water, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska, and SWECO) delivering over half of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme. As we prepare for the challenges and opportunities of AMP8, we’re looking for talented individuals to help us shape the future of water infrastructure.
At Anglian Water, we’re Always Exploring – ensuring we remain competitive, attractive, and rewarding for both existing and prospective employees. By Doing The Right Thing, we’re committed to recognising and rewarding our people fairly and transparently, while Building Trust through a culture that prioritises health, safety, and wellbeing.
Your Purpose
As a Civil Engineer within one of our four business units, you’ll create and develop value-driven civil designs that achieve our capital investment programme outcomes and deliver value.
Under the direction of the Project Design Manager, you’ll deliver a range of Civil Engineering projects which not only continues to provide the region with safe drinking water, but be involved in pioneering and environmentally- focussed work which enhances our region’s prosperity now and in years to come.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Production of civil designs, calculations and specifications for water-sector assets, design schedule and specify pipes, including ductile iron, steelwork and plastic.
- Working within multi-discipline design teams to produce designs which are on time, within budget and meet the required standards, liaising with stakeholders including Operations, contractors, and suppliers along the way.
- Drive excellence in Health and Safety in design by eliminating hazards and reducing risks during design whilst complying with Alliance CDM procedures.
- Progress projects from feasibility stage through detailed design to construction.
- Undertake site visits to assess current condition of our assets for feasibility studies, reports and provide survey data for integration of the asset into our design solution.
- Provide support to update existing, and increase the number of, Standard Products that are used within our design solutions on a repeatable basis.
- Identify and promote opportunities to meet the project digital, sustainability, innovation and people objectives.
About You
You will ideally have:
- BEng or MEng/MSc Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering, ideally working towards attaining Chartered Engineer status
- Good knowledge and experience of undertaking structural calculations for various concrete structures, and demonstrable experience in undertaking design of various civil engineering structures
- Experience with relevant engineering design software packages
- Confident in the utilisation of British Standards and Eurocodes and have the ability to interpret ground investigation reports to enable you to design the correct solution
- Team work and collaboration skills
- Strong reporting writing and data analysis skills
- Ability to professionally challenge current ways of working and suggests new approaches
Depending on your skills, experience, and interests, you could be aligned to one of our four business units:
Place Based Thinking
The Place Based Thinking team delivers some of the largest and most complex projects across the @one Alliance. Made up of six Senior Project Manager teams, we oversee 19 catchments, covering key sites such as Whitlingham, Flag Fen, Great Billing, Cotton Valley, Bedford, Colchester, and Ipswich Cliff Quays. These projects involve managing all parts of the network from rising and gravity mains, pumping stations, high spilling overflows, and water recycling centres.
Water
The Water Business Unit provides strategic support across the clean water network, covering both system performance and infrastructure planning. We assess the future hydraulic state of the network in response to population growth and increased demand, support the design and delivery of capital and infrastructure schemes to ensure hydraulic resilience, and work with optimisation teams to enhance overall network efficiency.
Water Recycling (East and West)
Our Water Recycling Business Unit, split into East and West regions, is responsible for the collection, conveyance, and treatment of wastewater across an extensive network. We operate over 76,000 km of sewerage infrastructure and 1,163 treatment centres, ensuring safe and sustainable discharge to the environment while driving innovation and environmental performance.
Why Join Us?
This is a fantastic opportunity to work with one of the UK’s most successful capital delivery alliances. You’ll have the chance to contribute to cutting‑edge projects that shape the future of water infrastructure, working alongside a team of experts across various disciplines. We offer a culture that values innovation, continuous learning, and professional growth, with a focus on delivering sustainable solutions that make a positive environmental impact.
At Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, we believe in being Safer Every Day
Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Being Safer Every Day means making positive choices, moment by moment, to protect ourselves and those around us. We create a culture where health, safety and wellbeing come first.
Together, we will be the change