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Anglian Water’s Strategic Pipeline Alliance: Little Whelnetham to Raydon Tee Pipeline (2025)

Water resource management plan to help combat the risk of shortages, boosting resilience and securing water supplies across the East of England

Open cut pipe laying operations underway - Courtesy of @one Alliance/Barhale

The Little Whelnetham to Raydon Tee (LRT) Pipeline is a key part of Anglian Water’s Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA), designed to enhance water resilience across the East of England. The pipeline will allow between 15 and 55 million litres of water to be moved from ‘wetter’ to ‘drier’ areas of the region; helping to combat the risk of shortages, boosting resilience and securing water supplies. It will also reduce the number of homes and businesses that rely on a single water source. The project is part of Anglian Water’s Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP), which sets out how water supplies will be managed across the region to meet current and future needs over 25 years.

Strategic Pipeline Alliance

The Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) is one of biggest environmental projects being undertaken in Europe and is the most important in Anglian Water’s history. As the pressures of climate change and population growth demand more from existing water networks the SPA will ensure that water flows to the areas that need it most, future-proofing the region’s water infrastructure for generations to come.

The SPA comprises Farrans, MMB, Costain and Jacobs, and once complete, over 580 km of pipeline will have been laid in sections ranging from 9 km to 90 km, that will eventually join together. The Alliance has adopted number of cost saving and environmentally responsible methods to construct the pipeline, including pipe ploughing, new welding techniques, and water-less commissioning.

The entire pipeline has been designed to have the lowest carbon footprint possible, in line with Anglian Water’s pledge to reach net zero carbon by 2030.

Site compound - Courtesy of @one Alliance/Barhale

Site compound – Courtesy of @one Alliance/Barhale

Little Whelnetham to Raydon Pipeline

Anglian Water’s @one Alliance was tasked by Anglian Water and SPA to deliver the £70m, 36km pipeline between Little Whelnetham near Bury St Edmunds to Wherstead Reservoir in Raydon, south of Ipswich. From solving engineering challenges to preserving local heritage, and complying with regulatory environmental requirements, the LRT pipeline exemplifies what can be achieved when innovation, collaboration and resilience come together.

This case study highlights the engineering progress, environmental responsibility, and lessons learned from the LRT pipeline, showcasing the importance of collaboration and forward-thinking in delivering both infrastructure and environmental stewardship.

Project scope

The LRT pipeline is a critical infrastructure project connecting Bury St Edmunds to East Suffolk, forming an essential part of the wider Strategic Pipeline Alliance network. Spanning 36 kilometres, the pipeline includes 26 km of 630mm pipe and 10 km of 450mm pipe.

This pipeline includes major crossings, including under the A12 and the Ipswich to London railway line, further demonstrate the complexity of this project.

(left & right) Pipelaying underway and (centre) pipe stocks - Courtesy of @one Alliance

(left & right) Pipelaying underway and (centre) pipe stocks – Courtesy of @one Alliance

LRT Pipeline: Supply chain – key participants

  • Project delivery: @one Alliance
  • Principal contractor: Barhale
  • Designer: Jacobs
  • Civil engineering services: Wells Services (Norfolk) Ltd
  • Geotechnical surveys & design: AF Howland Associates
  • Mainlaying contractor: G&V Gallagher Ltd
  • Horizontal directional drilling contractor (HDD): OCU Utility Services Ltd
  • Site engineering & quality control: East Anglian Site Engineering Ltd
  • PE pipes: Aliaxis
  • Welding: G&V Gallagher Ltd |
  • Welding: Wells Services (Norfolk) Ltd
  • Land drainage: Lincolnshire Drainage Company Ltd
  • Plant hire: Flannery Plant Hire (Oval) Ltd
  • Plant hire: Cadman Cranes Ltd
  • Plant hire: Richardson Recycling
  • Plant hire: GB Plant Hire Limited
  • Plant hire: True Plant Hire Ltd
  • Trackway: TPA (a VP plc company)

Milestones

At the time of writing (May 2025) construction is well advanced and several significant milestones have been achieved:

  1. 31.7 km of pipes installed and 36.2 km welded.
  2. Five out of six drill shots have been successfully completed, keeping the project ahead of schedule.
  3. Topsoil reinstatement is progressing, with 2.1 km in Section 4 of the four sections already completed.
  4. Highways England has approved the directional drilling project for the A12 crossing, and final approval for the Ipswich to Liverpool Street (London) railway crossing is expected shortly.

Archaeological discoveries & historic preservation

Prior to the team starting construction, it was necessary to complete archaeological digs which uncovered a Roman settlement from the 1st and 2nd centuries. Also, ancient structures, artifacts, and remnants of a thriving community were found alongside this too. The team worked in partnership with archaeologists to carefully document and preserve these findings, ensuring that this important history was respected throughout the construction process.

Archeological operations - Courtesy of @one Alliance

Archeological operations – Courtesy of @one Alliance

Community & landowner engagement

Collaboration with local farmers and landowners have also been at the heart of this project, ensuring minimal disruption to their land while promoting sustainable use. Through a Soil Management Plan (SMP), developed alongside the National Farmers Union (NFU), the team has conducted daily soil sampling to monitor moisture levels and determine optimal conditions for handling. This has allowed the team to ensure transparent communication with local communities by keeping everyone informed and engaged; ensuring a successfully delivery of the project.

Weather challenges & resilience

As with any engineering project, adverse weather can play its part. However, the team’s commitment to resilience has currently ensured that any lost time has been recovered through weekend working and proactive solutions. These challenges only demonstrate the team’s adaptability and its unwavering focus on delivering the project on time and with the highest quality standards.

Biodiversity compliance: The dormice challenge

One particularly intriguing aspect of this project has been its focus on protecting dormice habitats. Dormice are a legally protected species in the UK, which means any infrastructure project that impacts their habitat must adhere to strict regulations. These requirements include minimising disruption, creating new habitat corridors, and long-term monitoring to ensure that conservation measures are effective.

Dormouse - Courtesy of Pixabay

Dormouse – Courtesy of Pixabay

Conservation measures taken

In line with these regulations, the LRT project team implemented a range of innovative conservation strategies.

  • Existing hedgerows and woodlands were preserved to ensure safe movement for dormice.
  • New trees and shrubs shall be planted to restore and enhance green corridors, ensuring continued habitat connectivity.
  • Purpose-built crossings, such as dormouse bridges and tunnels, were introduced to help dormice move safely across infrastructure barriers, in order to maintain and increase connectivity.

In addition, advanced monitoring techniques, such as footprint tunnels, nesting boxes, and camera traps were deployed to track dormice activity, while regular environmental assessments ensured ongoing compliance with biodiversity regulations.

LRT Dormice Project – Specialist suppliers

  • Rope bridges: Keystone Environmental Ltd
  • Steel wildlife bridges: Animex International

The outcome

At the time of writing the team are yet to detect any dormice on the site and as the project progresses, CCTV monitoring will continue throughout the remainder of the construction phase. As a result of findings for this project, the outcome presents an opportunity for Anglian Water to contribute to a wider discussion on evidence-based conservation policies. By sharing the results from this project, Anglian Water can help inform future environmental assessments, ensuring that investments in biodiversity are targeted, effective, and justified.

LRT Pipeline - Dormouse Challenge - Courtesy of @one Alliance

LRT Pipeline – Dormouse Challenge – Courtesy of @one Alliance

A model of collaboration, innovation & environmental responsibility

The LRT Pipeline is a prime example of how engineering excellence, environmental stewardship, and community collaboration can coexist and thrive. The project is not only pushing the boundaries of modern pipeline engineering but also showing how forward-thinking infrastructure can respect historical and environmental legacies.

Engagement with landowners, communities and specialists has been central to the project’s success, fostering strong partnerships and ensuring that diverse interests were respected. Furthermore, the commitment to biodiversity compliance, even when the real-world necessity of certain interventions is questioned, demonstrates the project’s commitment to both environmental responsibility and regulatory adherence.

Lessons for the future

The experiences from the Little Whelnetham to Raydon Pipeline  Project offer valuable lessons for future infrastructure projects:

  • Evidence-based policy is key. If certain conservation measures do not yield expected results, is it time to rethink overly cautious regulations?
  • Collaboration is vital. Bringing together engineers, archaeologists, environmental specialists, and local communities has been instrumental in overcoming challenges.
  • Resilience and adaptability are essential. Overcoming unpredictable weather and complex regulatory processes has shown that proactive problem-solving ideologies lead to success.
Stringing out the LRT pipes - Courtesy of @one Alliance/Barhale

Stringing out the LRT pipes – Courtesy of @one Alliance/Barhale

This project is a powerful testament to the fact that bold, innovative engineering can deliver essential infrastructure while prioritizing environmental and regulatory responsibilities.

Ultimately, once complete the LRT Pipeline will not only enhance the resilience of the water network but also contribute to a healthier, more sustainable environment for communities, wildlife, and future generations. It is a shining example of how infrastructure can be developed with both the present and the future in mind; achieving the balance between modern engineering and environmental responsibility.

The editor and publishers would like to thank Anglian Water’s @one Alliance for providing the above article for publication. The @one Alliance is a collaboration of eight partner companies that each provide specialist knowledge allowing the Alliance to deliver complex delivery projects in the most efficient way, reducing the cost to Anglian Water’s customers. The partners are Anglian Water Asset Delivery, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, Mott MacDonald Bentley, Sweco, Skanska, and MWH Treatment.providing the above article for publication.