Linklaters advises GLIL Infrastructure in its investment into landmark North West water infrastructure upgrade programme

Linklaters has advised GLIL Infrastructure, a partnership of UK pension funds, in its investment into a landmark UK water infrastructure project, that will future proof the water supply for millions of people across the North West of England.

The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) will replace and maintain six tunnels on the more than 70 year-old, 110km pipeline that delivers water from the Lake District to 2.5m residents of Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

United Utilities has awarded the contract, with an estimated construction cost of c. £3bn, for the finance, design, build and maintenance of the six tunnels comprising the HARP project to Cascade Infrastructure Ltd – a project company comprised of GLIL, Equitix and STRABAG.

As well as delivering essential upgrades that will safeguard a critical water supply, HARP will deliver economic benefits to the region and create local jobs and apprenticeship opportunities.

The project is the first of its kind in the UK water sector approved by Ofwat to be delivered through a Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) model. This is an initiative designed to deliver innovation and best value for water company customers, by competitively tendering for the delivery of major projects.

The Linklaters team was led by Richard Ginks (Global Head of Energy & Infrastructure) and David Leeming (Counsel), supported by Thomas Ford (Partner),  Andrew Penfold (Partner), Ruslan Nurullaev (Managing Associate) and Laura Chan (Associate).