Portsmouth Water's AMP8 investment is 150% larger than AMP7 — the company's most ambitious capital programme in its 160-year history. Highlights include the £325m Havant Thicket Reservoir (8.7bn litres, due 2029), the £136.5m Cappagh infrastructure and smart metering framework, and a £170m MEICA engineering services framework. Serves Hampshire and West Sussex.
Portsmouth Water's AMP8 programme is defined by three major workstreams: the Havant Thicket Reservoir (the defining infrastructure project), an infrastructure maintenance and smart metering programme, and an MEICA (above-ground assets) engineering programme. Together these represent the most significant capital investment programme in the company's history.
The £325m Havant Thicket Reservoir is one of the most significant water infrastructure projects in England in a generation. It will store 8.7 billion litres of spring water that would otherwise be lost to the sea each winter, providing multi-decade supply security for Hampshire and West Sussex. The reservoir will also allow Portsmouth Water to transfer surplus resources to Southern Water customers further west, improving regional resilience across the south coast. Earthworks, lining, civil engineering, M&E fit-out and environmental mitigation are all active sub-supply chain requirements throughout the construction period.
| Contractor | Framework | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cappagh | AMP8 Infrastructure + Smart Water Meter Installation | £136.5m (AMP8/AMP9) | Commenced August 2025; asset installation, upgrades and smart metering across supply area |
| Bridges Electrical Engineers Ltd | MEICA Engineering Services (Non-Infrastructure) | Part of £170m (AMP8/AMP9) | Mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation works |
| Integrated Water Services Ltd | MEICA Engineering Services (Non-Infrastructure) | Part of £170m (AMP8/AMP9) | Non-infrastructure above-ground asset engineering services |
In addition to the above frameworks, Portsmouth Water procures major standalone contracts for the Havant Thicket Reservoir construction programme. The reservoir project involves separate procurement for earthworks, civil engineering, lining, M&E and environmental mitigation.
Portsmouth Water publishes procurement opportunities on Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk) for all above-threshold contracts, including the Havant Thicket Reservoir construction packages. Portsmouth Water also maintains its own supplier portal and procurement contact channel for framework registrations and pre-qualification questionnaires.
For the three awarded frameworks (Cappagh infrastructure, Bridges Electrical and Integrated Water Services MEICA), Tier 1 positions are filled — but each framework holder requires specialist Tier 2 subcontractors across M&E, civils, smart metering installation, commissioning and OT/IT. For the Havant Thicket Reservoir, standalone sub-contracts are ongoing and will continue through to 2029.
Water Industry Hub monitors all Portsmouth Water procurement channels and delivers relevant notices directly to your inbox — including Havant Thicket sub-contracts and direct Portsmouth Water procurement.
Portsmouth Water's AMP8 programme has three main supply chain entry points: (1) the Cappagh infrastructure framework for civil and metering works — approach Cappagh directly for Tier 2 subcontract opportunities; (2) the Bridges Electrical/Integrated Water Services MEICA framework for above-ground M&E — approach either framework holder for electrical, instrumentation and SCADA subcontract work; (3) the Havant Thicket Reservoir standalone procurement — watch Find a Tender for earthworks, lining, civil and M&E packages as they are released through to 2029.
Water Industry Hub offers procurement support from someone who spent 18 years inside a major water company — across distribution, operations, capital delivery and group transformation. Every bid review is supported by a team of water sector experts. Initial conversation free of charge.
Water Industry Hub monitors Find a Tender and the wider sector for every Portsmouth Water contract award, live tender and pipeline notice — including Havant Thicket packages — with named supplier details, supply chain analysis and framework watch list.
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