---
title: "Grand Union Canal Transfer Scheme - Moving Water Together"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055f31"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055f31"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055f31.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055f31.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "AFFINITY WATER LIMITED"
published: "2025-07-16"
---

# Grand Union Canal Transfer Scheme - Moving Water Together

Buyer: AFFINITY WATER LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-055f31

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055f31)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055f31.json)

## Summary

Affinity Water Limited, the largest water-only supplier in the UK, is currently in the planning stage of a major procurement initiative titled the "Grand Union Canal Transfer Scheme - Moving Water Together". This project is classified under industry categories such as construction work, water distribution, and banking services and is focused on leveraging existing canal infrastructure to ensure strategic water transfer from the Midlands to the Southeast of England. The procurement process is initiated through the Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) programme, using a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) model, with the primary procurement method involving Design-Build-Finance (DBF), Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM), and Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) models. Key milestones in this planning phase include a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice due on 5th September 2025, aimed at gauging market capacity and informing the procurement strategy. The project's anticipated contract period runs from 30th September 2028 to 30th June 2057, with Affinity Water's headquarters located in Hatfield, UK.

The Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme presents substantial opportunities for various business sectors. Infrastructure investors, financiers, and engineering and construction firms are particularly well-suited to contribute expertise and resources to this nationally significant project. The scheme's comprehensive scope, including water treatment works, pumping stations, and environmental mitigation efforts, requires innovative financing models and operational strategies, making it attractive for joint ventures and consortia. Businesses capable of providing technical feasibility insights, managing commercial risks, and contributing to sustainable environmental practices stand to benefit considerably, as the long-term nature and substantial £425m budget (net) promise significant returns and growth in the utilities and sustainability sectors.

## Notice

Affinity Water is the largest water-only supplier in the UK, serving over 3.8 million people across the southeast of England. With a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and customer service, Affinity Water is committed to securing water supplies for future generations while protecting the environment. Our work includes reducing water leakage, promoting water efficiency, and engaging with communities to ensure a reliable and sustainable water future. The Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme has been designated a project of national significance, forming part of Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) programme. Affinity Water is looking to utilise a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) through a Design-Build -Finance (DBF) or Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) model or variations thereof (including Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM)). The scheme facilitates strategic water transfer from the Midlands to the Southeast, leveraging existing canal infrastructure alongside new assets, including water treatment works, pipelines, pumping stations, and environmental mitigation works. This notice seeks market engagement from suitably qualified parties capable of delivering a secure, sustainable, and value-oriented solution for customers aligned with long-term national water resilience objectives.

### Planning Information

Affinity Water Limited is issuing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice as part of the early market consultation for the Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme (GUCT scheme), a nationally significant water infrastructure initiative. The southern section of this project is to be delivered under Ofwat's Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) programme, using a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) model.
Affinity Water seeks to engage with market participants who may have the capability, experience, and interest in delivering the scheme through a Design-Build-Finance (DBF), Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM) or Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) model. This early market consultation is a Request for Information (RFI) to help shape the commercial, technical, and delivery strategy of the project and inform the forthcoming procurement process.
The project includes (but is not limited to):
• Water Treatment Works
• Pumping stations
• Transfer pipelines
• Canal enhancements
• Environmental and mitigation measures
• Long-term operation and maintenance services (if DBFOM is adopted)
Affinity Water is looking to appoint a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) through an open, fair, and transparent competitive procurement process. Affinity Water anticipates that the CAP will be responsible for the design, build, and financing of the scheme, with options to include operation and maintenance for a defined contract term of 25 years.
This Market Engagement is focused on:
• Gauging market capacity and capability
• Understanding potential delivery models and risks
• Informing procurement strategy (DBF, DBFM & DBFOM)
• Identifying innovations and barriers to entry
The scope of this RFI includes:
• Technical feasibility and constructability insights
• Financing models, including private sector appetite and structures
• Operations and maintenance considerations (where applicable)
• Commercial risk allocation and delivery timelines
• Market constraints or innovations
• Environmental or regulatory factors
Affinity Water encourages responses from:
• Infrastructure investors and financiers
• Construction and engineering firms
• Operations and maintenance specialists
• Joint ventures or consortia
Please email guctscheme@affinitywater.co.uk to register/participate in the market engagement process.
This notice is not a call for competition, a contract notice, or a commitment to procure.
Affinity Water reserves the right to alter or terminate the market engagement process at any time without notice.
Affinity Water is not liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any party in responding to this RFI.
Submission of a response does not guarantee inclusion in any future procurement or prequalification process.
Affinity water reserves the right to enter into further rounds of pre-market engagement.
All future procurement opportunities will be published through the Central Digital platform (CDP).
Affinity Water will process your personal data, such as your name and contact details, in accordance with its obligations under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Your personal data will be used for the purposes of reviewing your questionnaire and contacting you for further information only. Any information you provide may be shared with our Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme commercial partners.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040510-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Jul 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 5 Sep 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 29 Sep 2028 - 30 Jun 2057 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £425,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | AFFINITY WATER LIMITED |
| Locality | HATFIELD |
| Post town | St Albans |
| Postcode | AL10 9EZ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLH26 North and East Hertfordshire |
| Local authority | Welwyn Hatfield |
| Electoral ward | Hatfield Villages |
| Westminster constituency | Welwyn Hatfield |
| Delivery location | TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLJ South East (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work
- 65 - Public utilities
- 66 - Financial and insurance services

### Codes

- 45000000 - Construction work
- 65100000 - Water distribution and related services
- 66100000 - Banking and investment services

## Release History

- 16 Jul 2025 at 12:03 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040510-2025
- 15 Jul 2025 at 10:30 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039878-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040510-2025
  16th July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039878-2025
  15th July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://guctransfer.co.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055f31. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055f31.json.