United Utilities to deliver additional £975 million investment across the North West

Water sector regulator, Ofwat, has provisionally approved proposals by United Utilities to deliver a £975 million investment into the region’s water infrastructure.

Plans will support the continued growth of the region’s economy, and create an estimated 4,000 additional jobs across United Utilities’ supply chain. The additional investment sits alongside the £13 billion worth of infrastructure investment already planned by the water company by 2030, and have included construction of new infrastructure in Stockport to reduce discharge of wastewater into local waterways during heavy rainfall.

United Utilities submitted its plans to Ofwat in April for a range of schemes requiring additional investment, and is subject to a final determination in December 2026.

Proposals seek to enhance resilience across the company’s network throughout the North West and provide additional water and wastewater capacity that will support continued economic growth in the region, as well as new housing.

Louise Beardmore, Chief Executive Officer of United Utilities, said:

“It is great to see this in-period regulatory mechanism working well, providing the opportunity to deliver the additional infrastructure needed to support the rapid economic growth we are seeing across the region, enabling businesses to grow, houses to be built and additional high-quality jobs to be created, providing great opportunities for employment for people here in the North West.”