The Thames Tideway super sewer will open nine months later than expected, as the Covid-19 pandemic impacts operations
Bazalgette Finance, the group of investors funding the Thames Tideway super sewer, has provided an update following an assessment of the impact of the Covid-19.
Bazalgette Finance, the group of investors funding the project, says that tunnelling has been delayed by the Covid-19 lockdown and requirements for reorganising working practices.
The company’s latest modelling indicates construction work, which was due to be completed in 2024, is now likely to be completed in the first half of 2025.
An extra nine months have been added to the Thames Tideway super sewer schedule.
The approved revised forecast adds £233m to the previous forecast, taking the estimated project cost to £4.133bn.
In a statement, the company said: “Tideway is in discussions with Ofwat on a package of measures that would mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19 on the company.
“We are making progress in these discussions and we expect to reach a full agreement in the coming months.
“Following a temporary pause of all but essential works at the start of the UK lockdown, construction work recommenced on the majority of the company’s worksites in May, albeit at a lower level of activity in order to comply with social distancing requirements.”
The company published its annual report and accounts in June 2020, setting out the progress made in 2019/20, including constructing half of the super sewer.
The report also provided further detail of the measures taken as a result of the pandemic.
