EMS is delighted to formally announce its appointment as the management services provider for Cascade Infrastructure Ltd who will deliver the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) for United Utilities.
HARP is a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project for United Utilities working in partnership with Cascade Infrastructure, the consortium project company formed by STRABAG, Equitix and GLIL Infrastructure.
EMS is proud to be part of the monumental project and looks forward to working closely with project stakeholders and collaborating with other suppliers to Cascade Infrastructure, including STRABAG UK and BRVZ.
This appointment marks a major milestone for EMS and reflects our proven ability to deliver independent, high-quality management services on complex infrastructure projects.
About the Project
HARP is a landmark programme to upgrade and future-proof one of the UK’s most critical water supply routes serving 2.5 million people, delivering 570 million litres of water every day. The project involves the design, construction, financing, and operation of six tunnel sections of the aqueduct – spanning approximately 50km across Cumbria, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester out of the 110 km pipeline.
At an estimated construction cost of circa £3bn, HARP is the largest water infrastructure scheme to be undertaken in the North West, delivering on a commitment to safeguard supplies for generations to come, creating a lasting legacy.
The project will bring a range of economic benefits to the region, employing up to 1200 people at the construction peak with an apprentice recruitment programme to help build and secure skills for the future. The project will involve an extensive construction phase of 9 years, followed by 25 years of operation and maintenance.
With Haweswater Lake sitting at 250 metres above sea level leading to Bury, Greater Manchester where the aqueduct ends, sitting at 100m, this allows water flow to be predominantly gravity fed with the weight of the water enough to keep it flowing. Siphons are used to ‘pull’ water through uphill sections.
Unlike the original aqueduct, which was constructed using hand digging and blasting techniques, the new pipeline will be constructed using tunnel boring machines, meaning that each section of the pipeline is standardised.
About the EMS role
In collaboration with suppliers to the CAP and elements of self-delivery by the CAP, EMS will provide a full suite of management services to support the CAP and its delivery partners, including:
- Health, safety, environmental and quality assurance
- Management systems
- Financial management
- Governance
- Contract administration
- Construction and commercial management
- Stakeholder engagement
EMS will work closely with the CAP’s supply chain and advisers to deliver seamless integration, effective oversight, and innovative solutions throughout the lifecycle of the HARP project.
Our experienced team will work collaboratively with stakeholders and a project first mindset to help manage and mitigate key risks across health and safety, the environment, programme delivery and stakeholder liaison – ensuring a resilient, value-driven outcome for all parties.
Partnership built on trust and excellence
This collaboration brings together a strong consortium of major infrastructure delivery teams benefitting from the combination of project finance expertise of Equitix, STRABAG’s engineering experience and the integrated management capability of EMS. Together, we aim to deliver a resilient, future-proof water infrastructure solution for the North West.
Richard Knight, Chief Executive Officer of EMS said:
“This is a significant milestone for EMS as we bring our trusted management services to one of the UK’s most important infrastructure programmes. We are ready to deliver our tailored service in close collaboration with sponsors and investors, and we look forward to building strong relationships with new partners.”
This appointment demonstrates EMS’s proven capabilities as a multi-disciplined management services provider and solidifies our reputation for enabling complex infrastructure projects to succeed through partnership, excellence and trust.
Read more about HARP here: United Utilities – HARP
