What Severn Trent Has Announced
Severn Trent Water has announced it is preparing to issue a pre-market engagement notice for a new generation of capital delivery framework or frameworks, representing up to £25 billion of investment across the Midlands over the next eight to fifteen years. The frameworks will span AMP9, AMP10 and AMP11 — three consecutive regulatory periods running from approximately 2030 to 2045.
The announcement, made on 17 July 2026, confirms that formal procurement is expected to commence in early 2027. UK2 notices — the pre-market engagement mechanism under the Procurement Act 2023 — will be issued to the market shortly, setting out the details of a forthcoming market engagement day.
In parallel with the capital delivery framework, Severn Trent will also be running a separate Design Services tender process. The company has described this as a critical and integrated component of the overall project lifecycle — a joined-up approach to design, delivery and supply chain collaboration from project inception through to construction.
Severn Trent has confirmed that this announcement does not represent additional investment beyond what has previously been communicated. The £25bn figure reflects the total ceiling across three regulatory periods, not a new funding commitment above existing plans.
Why This Matters for the Supply Chain
AMP8 framework appointments — the cycle that is currently live — were largely made between mid-2024 and mid-2025. Most of the Tier 1 landscape across the sector is now set for this regulatory period. The Severn Trent AMP9-11 announcement is the first major signal that the next competitive procurement window is approaching, and that the period of pre-qualification, relationship-building and pre-market influence is now open.
For firms not currently on Severn Trent's AMP8 delivery frameworks, this is the window that matters. Pre-market engagement is the phase where framework structure, lot boundaries and qualification criteria are still being shaped. Companies that engage now — attending market engagement events, submitting responses to UK2 notices and building relationships with Severn Trent's commercial team — are better positioned to influence what the framework looks like before it goes to formal tender.
For Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers, the picture is different but equally important. Severn Trent has confirmed that the majority of AMP8 investment will continue to be delivered through incumbent partners during the transition period. That means the route to AMP9 Tier 2 work, in the near term, runs through existing AMP8 framework holders — not a new competitive process.
The Two Separate Procurements
Capital Delivery Framework(s)
The primary vehicle for civil engineering, infrastructure works, MEICA, operational delivery and programme management across AMP9-11. Severn Trent has indicated this will be structured to engage a diverse range of partners — from major international contractors to regional and local SMEs. The explicit mention of SMEs signals that the framework structure will likely include participation requirements or lot structures designed to give smaller regional firms a route in alongside the Tier 1 majors.
Design Services Tender
A separate and parallel process covering design, technical assurance and engineering consultancy. Severn Trent has described this as integrated with the capital delivery framework — meaning design and delivery partners will be expected to work collaboratively from project inception. For engineering consultancies and design firms, this is a distinct procurement opportunity running on the same timeline.
UK2 pre-market engagement notices: imminent. Market engagement event: to be confirmed via UK2 notices. Formal procurement commencement: early 2027. Framework award: not yet stated — but given AMP9 begins in April 2030, award is likely needed by 2028-29 to allow mobilisation.
What Severn Trent's Leadership Said
"This is a major opportunity for the market to partner with Severn Trent on one of the UK's most ambitious water infrastructure programmes. We've achieved strong results with our existing partners, and we're now looking to build on that success through a more integrated and collaborative delivery model that creates better outcomes for customers and communities. Through this framework, we are creating a long-term platform that will support delivery across AMP9, AMP10 and AMP11, while providing the flexibility, resilience and innovation needed to meet future challenges."Paul Baxter, Capital Delivery Director, Severn Trent Water
"Our ambition is to create a high-performing supplier ecosystem that combines the strengths of established partners with the innovation and capability of new market entrants. The framework will support the AMP8 to AMP9 transition, provide certainty for the supply chain and create opportunities for suppliers to invest in people, skills and innovation over the long term. We want this to be more than a procurement exercise. We want to create a platform for collaboration, regional growth and lasting value that delivers benefits for customers, communities and the wider Midlands economy."Daniel Foster, Head of Capital Commercial, Severn Trent Water
What the Supply Chain Should Do Now
The pre-market engagement phase is not a formality — it is the most commercially valuable stage of any major framework procurement. This is the period when Severn Trent is actively seeking market input on framework structure, qualification thresholds, lot design and commercial models. Firms that engage substantively during this phase are better placed when the formal procurement opens.
- Monitor for the UK2 notices: Severn Trent has confirmed these are imminent. UK2 pre-market engagement notices are published on Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk). Register for alerts or check the portal regularly. Water Industry Hub will flag these as soon as they appear.
- Register for the market engagement event: Details will follow with the UK2 notice. This is the primary forum for Tier 1 contractors, design firms and specialist suppliers to hear Severn Trent's delivery model plans, ask questions and signal capability and interest.
- Tier 1 contractors — review your AMP8 position: Incumbents on Severn Trent's current delivery frameworks are likely to feature in the AMP9-11 transition conversation. If you are not on the current framework, now is the time to build relationships with Severn Trent's commercial and procurement teams before formal qualification criteria are set.
- Design consultancies — treat this as a separate opportunity: The Design Services tender is a distinct procurement running in parallel. It is not a sub-lot of the capital delivery framework. Firms that might not compete for the civil and MEICA delivery work should still assess their position on the design side.
- SMEs and regional firms — this framework is explicitly designed to include you: Severn Trent has been direct about wanting a diverse partner base from international majors to regional SMEs. The lot structure and qualification criteria are still being shaped — pre-market engagement is the moment to make the case for how SME participation should be structured.
- Tier 2 and Tier 3 — focus on the AMP8 incumbents now: The majority of AMP8 work continues through existing partners during the transition. Your route to AMP9 Tier 2 work, in the near term, is through the firms already on Severn Trent's current frameworks — not a new open competition.
Key Facts — Severn Trent AMP9-11 Framework
- Up to £25bn across AMP9, AMP10 and AMP11 (three regulatory periods, 8–15 years)
- Pre-market engagement notice imminent — UK2 notices to be issued shortly
- Market engagement event to follow — details confirmed via UK2 notice
- Formal procurement commences early 2027
- Separate Design Services tender running in parallel — distinct procurement
- AMP8 incumbents continue through transition — majority of current programme unaffected
- Diverse partner base explicitly targeted: international contractors to regional SMEs
- Performance, capability and capacity central to future work allocation
- Source: Severn Trent Water press release, 17 July 2026
The Broader Context
The Severn Trent announcement sits within England's Big Upgrade — the government's framing for the unprecedented scale of water infrastructure investment now underway. AMP8 alone represents £104bn of sector investment across all water companies. The Severn Trent AMP9-11 signal is the first confirmation from a major water company that the next cycle of capital framework procurement is on the horizon, and that the market engagement period is now open.
For the water sector supply chain, the sequencing of events from here is predictable: UK2 pre-market engagement notice, market engagement day, pre-qualification questionnaire, invitation to tender, framework award. The firms that will win appointments in 2028-29 are those that start engaging in 2026-27 — not those that wait for the formal procurement to open.
Water Industry Hub will track the UK2 notices, market engagement dates and procurement milestones for this framework as they are published. Silver members receive alerts as soon as notices appear on Find a Tender.
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Get Silver Access → AMP8 Framework Tracker →Source: Severn Trent Water press release, 17 July 2026. Analysis by Water Industry Hub. This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute commercial or legal advice.