Kier has been appointed by Yorkshire Water to deliver a £7.9m storm overflow improvement scheme at Kent Road in Pudsey, West Yorkshire.
Kent Road is the first scheme to move into main construction under Kier’s AMP8 Complex Non-Infrastructure Framework with Yorkshire Water, marking an important milestone in the relationship between the two organisations.
Working with design partner SWECO, Kier will construct, test and commission around 2,500m³ of offline storage on the pipeline from Kent Road combined sewer overflow. During periods of heavy rainfall, the new infrastructure will provide additional capacity within the network before stored flows are returned for treatment when conditions allow.
The scheme will improve discharge performance into an unnamed watercourse that is a tributary of Pudsey/Farnley Beck. It is also intended to reduce unionised ammonia entering the watercourse, supporting local water quality and the environment.
The investment supports Yorkshire Water’s AMP8 programme to improve the environmental performance and resilience of its wastewater network. It also supports the Environment Act 2021 duty to progressively reduce the environmental and public-health impacts of storm overflow discharges and the Government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan.
As principal contractor, Kier will deliver the storage shaft, new chambers, connecting pipework, pumping and mixing equipment, and associated electrical and control systems.
Andy Lingham, managing director for Water at Kier Infrastructure, said:
Moving Kent Road into construction is an important milestone in our relationship with Yorkshire Water. It reflects the close working between our teams since the framework began and our shared focus on getting the project ready for safe and efficient delivery. We will continue working closely with Yorkshire Water, SWECO and our supply chain partners throughout construction. As the first scheme to move into build, Kent Road will set the tone for the wider programme: open collaboration, careful planning and a clear focus on delivering the environmental improvement the scheme is designed to provide.
Justine Pearson, Senior Project Manager, Asset Delivery and Engineering at Yorkshire Water, said:
This £7.9 million investment at Kent Road is an important part of our commitment to improving the environmental performance of our wastewater network and reducing the impact of storm overflows. The new storage infrastructure will increase capacity within the network during periods of heavy rainfall, helping us to better manage flows and improve performance at this location. By storing excess flows and returning them for treatment when capacity is available, the scheme will help support improvements to the local water environment. We're pleased to be working with Kier and SWECO to deliver this project, which is one of a number of investments we're making across Yorkshire to protect and enhance our rivers and watercourses for the future.
Across its wider work with Yorkshire Water since 1 July 2025, Kier has generated more than £1.28 million of measured social value. This includes 13 new local hires, one degree apprenticeship, 15 weeks of work experience, and more than £352,000 spent with Yorkshire suppliers.
Across the UK, Kier works with nine major water companies through long-term frameworks, alliances and delivery programmes.
Photo credit: Yorkshire Water