The Living Water Enterprise (LWE), a unique partnership created to deliver Northumbrian Water’s large-scale programme for AMP8 and beyond, has reached a landmark moment, breaking ground on its first project.

As one of LWE’s trusted partners, leading infrastructure and engineering company, Avove, is delivering the works, bringing essential upgrades to the local network as part of a combined sewer project in County Durham. They will collaborate with other LWE partners to ensure a timely completion with minimal disruption.

As part of the delivery, Avove are also supporting the community through a range of initiatives, updating facilities at a local primary school, whilst helping to inspire pupils through various STEM activities.

The works are part of an £8m investment in the County Durham village of Pelton, comprising of two consecutive schemes that will reduce spills from two Storm Overflows (SOs) by more than 65%. Work across the two neighbouring schemes is set to run into late summer 2026.

The Pelton projects are part of a £1.7bn environmental investment for AMP8, with 239 storm overflow interventions planned over the five years across Northumbrian Water’s North East England operating area.

Patrick Rafferty, Managing Director of Delivery at Avove, commented: “It’s a milestone moment for the Living Water Enterprise, and a fantastic project for us to mark the beginning of a strong and collaborative partnership with Northumbrian Water (NWG) through the delivery of exceptional infrastructure and engineering expertise.

“As a company, we are committed to building a positive future and leaving a legacy for the communities we serve. Our team is committed to excellence at every stage, ensuring that we deliver safely, sustainably and to the highest standards of quality – principles that will underpin this partnership with Northumbrian Water, throughout AMP8 and beyond.”

Monisha Gower, Asset Management Director at Northumbrian Water, said: “This is such an exciting moment for the Living Water Enterprise and for the delivery of our environmental commitment for AMP8 and beyond.

“While Northumbrian Water has used accelerated funding agreed with our regulator, Ofwat, to target some high spilling SOs as part of AMP7, this is the first project to hit the ground for the Living Water Enterprise as we roll out our £3.6bn AMP8 plan.”

Gavin Stonard, Operations Director for the Living Water Enterprise, said: “The LWE is a long-term collaboration, with these unique frameworks signed for up to 12 years, and we are jointly committed to a TOTEX approach, delivered by challenging existing methods and choices, placing an increased emphasis on innovation, safety and wellbeing, as well as delivering for our customers and the environment.

“While this first project represents something of a start for the Living Water Enterprise, it is, itself, the product and a milestone of months of collaboration that will take us long into an exciting future.”

The Enterprise was co-created with existing and new partners, creating the capacity and culture needed to support the delivery of the huge £3.6bn AMP8 plan and beyond. As an official partner of the Living Water Enterprise, Avove joins NWG and its supply chain partners to deliver largescale construction programmes throughout AMP8, creating economic growth and opportunities across the region.