Water Infrastructure Forum 2025 | 14 October - Burges Salmon, London

Super early bird savings end 4 July
Registration and refreshments
08:45  to  09:30
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
09:30  to  09:40
Keynote address: Next steps for reforming the water sector
09:40  to  09:50
Policy support for delivering the UK’s long-term water infrastructure – latest plans for securing future water supplies and increasing resilience
09:50  to  10:15
  • How will the Cunliffe review inform the next steps for attracting investment and speeding up development?
  • What does the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 means for enhancing the water network?
  • Modifying the current financial arrangements for major infrastructure projects
How is the regulatory framework driving faster development and innovation to improve the whole water system?
10:15  to  10:40
  • Identifying key opportunities within the regulatory framework to advance new water schemes
  • Accelerating the integration of innovative technologies to diversify water resources options and managing existing assets
  • Monitoring the delivery of planned investment – enhancing the visibility of the pipeline of projects
Insight on successful commercial and procurement models for delivering new water assets – what works best?
10:40  to  11:05
  • Best approaches to going through the procurement process
  • What are the benefits of competitive delivery models? SIPR versus DPC
  • How can future infrastructure be effectively deployed through existing commercial models?
  • Forming consortiums to bring forward first large-scale water infrastructure
Morning networking and refreshments
11:05  to  11:35
Overcoming supply chain barriers by ensuring greater flexibility and strengthening operational capabilities
11:35  to  12:00
  • Establishing early engagement with key suppliers to identify potential gaps that will limit construction 
  • Encouraging more flexibility in project delivery to incentivise risk sharing and timely execution  
  • How can the industry finds the skills needed to deliver future projects?
Panel discussion: Gearing up for AMP8 – what steps can the sector take now to successfully deliver its largest investment programme?
12:00  to  12:45
  • What does increased funds mean for the industry?
  • Does the water sector have the right work processes in place to modernise aging infrastructure?
  • Identifying the biggest challenges facing water companies and the supply chain in the next five years
  • Increasing collaboration within the sector to lower development costs and risks
Networking Lunch
12:45  to  13:45
Navigating the planning routes available for new water infrastructure – practical guidance on achieving consent
13:45  to  14:05
  • When are projects categorised under TCPA and DCO regimes?
  • Aligning the DCO process with Ofwat Rapid gated process
  • Preparing for the impact of proposed changes to the planning system – implications for water infrastructure
Updates on delivering first of their kind projects – how are these progressing and lessons learned so far
14:05  to  14:50
  • Timelines and priorities for development – enabling first reservoirs to be construction-ready by 2030-2035
  • Aligning planning and procurement process to accelerate delivery
  • Key learnings to date – how can these be applied to future water recycling and transfer systems?
  • Examples of successful partnerships between water companies and contractors  
Upgrading the water network while meeting net-zero targets and ensuring long-term sustainability
14:50  to  15:15
  • Balancing the need for improving water infrastructure and net-zero ambitions
  • Best strategies for reducing carbon footprints of current assets and future schemes
  • Minimising environmental impacts though integrating nature-based solutions
Afternoon networking and refreshments
15:15  to  15:45
Extending the life of existing assets by selecting the most effective maintenance and improvement strategy
15:45  to  16:10
  • Measuring asset health to prevent and predict failure
  • Innovative approaches to reducing leakage and enhance water efficiency  
  • Digital tools that can be implemented to understand where asset renewal is needed 
Innovations that are transforming water services to enable greater resilience – maximising opportunities created by new technologies
16:10  to  16:35
  • Where are key areas of innovations and how can these be leveraged?
  • AI applications in the water sector – insight on emerging technologies
  • Overcoming barriers to implementing and scaling innovations within the water system
Chair’s closing remarks
16:35  to  16:45
Close of conference and networking drinks
16:45  to  17:30

*All sessions include time for Q & A* 

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