Anglian Water has taken a significant step in securing the East of England's water supply by signing an agreement with the Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) to deliver an additional 260km of pipeline.

This development is part of Anglian Water's interconnector programme, aimed at bolstering the region's resilience to climate change and addressing water scarcity concerns.

SPA, including Costain, Farrans, Jacobs, and Mott MacDonald Bentley, will extend the pipeline to a total of 580km.

Anglian Water commercial operations director Jason Tucker said: “As we head into the next five years, which will see us deliver our biggest ever investment programme, our alliancing model continues to be an exemplar in the infrastructure industry, crucial to our success and meeting the demands of a growing population and climate change.

"I’d like to thank our partners for their ongoing commitment to the strategic pipeline and interconnector programme as we embark on this tremendous next phase.”

The expansion will facilitate the transfer of water from wetter areas in North Lincolnshire to drier regions such as Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex.

With the East of England being one of the driest and fastest-growing regions in the UK, the necessity for such infrastructure is underscored by the potential population increase of one million people by 2045.

The interconnector programme is seen as a crucial element of Anglian Water's broader £11bn ($14.9bn) initiative, representing nearly twice the amount of investment compared to the previous five-year period.

By the end of the decade, Anglian Water aims to complete its main strategic water grid and commence construction on two new reservoirs.

These projects are expected not only to secure water supply but also to generate employment and support the local economy.