Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1043438
10 ALLIANCES 2019 Esh-Stantec, a joint venture between Durham-based Esh Construction and Stantec (previously MWH) was formed in 2015 to deliver Northumbrian Water's Water and Wastewater Infrastruc- ture design & build frame- work. The JV has delivered capital infrastructure projects for the north-east utility throughout AMP6 as part of a 5 year framework with a potential 5 year extension in to AMP7. Their work includes everything from short-term flood damage mitigation to large-scale capital projects designed to improve overall asset infrastructure. Stantec acts as the designer in the JV with Esh Construction as the contractor with the focus on creating and maintaining a 'one team' culture. This approach has maximised the benefits of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) in the design, allowing valuable input in relation to buildability and alternative construction techniques to be incorporated into designs. Principal designers also make regular site visits as part of the delivery process, meaning that there is increased two-way engage- ment between designers and delivery teams which feeds continuous learning and improvement within the JV and the wider supply chain. Examples of their AMP6 work include a flood alleviation scheme in Whitley Bay involving innovative storage and the separation of stormwater and wastewater in the local sewer network; an award-winning sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) scheme in the Fellgate Estate, Tyne and Wear, which provides a high level of flood protection and a host of community benefits; and an ongoing £6M scheme to manage surface water at Killingworth Lake. The joint venture prides itself on being customer- focused, results driven, ethical and creative, working together as one team. Corporate CSR programmes - such as Esh Group's Building My Skills, STEM Water Kit & Stantec in the Community - have been utilised by the JV's delivery teams and embedded into core operations to strengthen relationships with the local community. Bespoke legacy projects have helped to develop their community focused ethos and as a result, they've worked with a wide range of key stakeholders including NEET Groups, Educational Establishments and the North East Fire Service, as well as social enterprises and community groups. "Esh-Stantec has a long-term approach to leaving a positive legacy, which involves building strong relationships with our clients, as well as key stakeholders in the local community," says Ben Clark, Design Programme Manager for Esh-Stantec. Northumbrian Water's £3BN spend plan for the 2020-25 period, which was submitted to Ofwat in September, has a strong emphasis on resilience schemes, which Esh-Stantec will be well placed to deliver. The utility's business plan identified that 16 per cent of people in its north east operating area would be at risk of flooding during a 1 in 50 year event; this is something Northumbrian has pledged to address through an investment of £392M in enhancement schemes for resilience in AMP7. "We will continue to work together as one team with Northumbrian Water, embedding their core values into our operations through- out AMP6 and beyond," says David Pratt, Framework Manager for Esh-Stantec. "Together, we've created an environment of collaboration, continuous improvement and behaviour that should make us proud and excited about the years ahead." ALLIANCES 2019: NORTHUMBRIAN WATER Esh-Stantec builds legacy for Northumbrian Esh-Stantec PARTNERS: Esh Construction, Stantec CLIENT: Northumbrian Water CONTRACT: Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Design & Build TERM: 5+5 years