Poole Water Recycling and Transfer

As part of wider plans from the West Country Water and Environment Group (WCWE), two projects are in early planning and development, namely the Poole Water Recycling and Transfer Project, and Cheddar 2 Reservoir and Transfer.

This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice refers only to the Poole Water Recycling and Transfer Project, led by Wessex Water, however a separate Preliminary Market Engagement Notice has been concurrently issued by South West Water for the Cheddar 2 Reservoir Project.

A Planned Procurement Notice reference 2025/S 000-037909 https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037909-2025?origin=SearchResults&p=1 has previously been published in relation to this Project.

It is Wessex Water's intent to procure a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain a new Poole Water Recycling and Transfer centre under the Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) model. Please note that this Notice is not a call for competition.

At this stage the Project scope comprises a new 30 Ml/d Water Recycling Centre at Corfe Mullen, together with ancillary associated works including transfer from the existing Poole Water Recycling Centre to the new Water Recycling Centre at Corfe Mullen, creation of new wetlands, and discharge pipelines. The estimated capital value of the work is c.£287m.

A launch event was held on Tuesday 9th September 2025, followed in October 2025 by bilateral discussions with interested parties from the target market. Wessex Water invites interested parties via this Notice to participate in further Market Engagement activities, as part of a planned ongoing programme of market engagement for the Poole Water Recycling and Transfer Project.

The programme of engagement is proposed to help develop a wider understanding of the delivery of the Project from both a construction and investment perspective, and presents an opportunity for Wessex Water to engage and collaborate with the market in refining its delivery and commercial model, procurement approach and contracting terms.

Additionally, the programme of market engagement seeks to encourage multi-party discussions that will align the Project's development and presentation to market with market trends, taking into account the perspectives of both Investors and Main Works Contractors who it is envisaged would form and comprise the CAP.

This round of Market Engagement will commence with a Webinar in July 2026 to provide project updates. We envisage this will be followed by a Poole engagement event Autumn 2026, and then further bilateral meetings following this. Only parties who have not registered previously through this PMEN will need to register as per the details below.