The Government Legal Department (GLD) has announced the successful completion of the £4.3 billion contract for the Thames Tideway Tunnel, describing the government support package for the Tunnel as designed “to remove project risks that private sector investors would not have been prepared to take.”

A leading US water expert has suggested that Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in tackling combined sewer overflows (CSOs) for London is a realistic alternative to Thames Water’s proposed £4.1 billion Tideway Tunnel for London and that more studies are needed before any final decisions are made. The utility has acknowledged that SUDS has an important role to play in addressing the issue but argues that there is no choice and that London needs both a Tunnel and SUDS to address its problems.

Pressure to persuade Thames Water to rethink its plans for a proposed supersewer looks set to move up a gear next week with a series of public meetings to challenge the utility’s proposals, including a high-level meeting in the House of Lords.

Thames Water is continuing with its efforts to engage and respond to stakeholders’ concerns about its proposals for the Thames Tunnel via its ongoing stakeholder engagement campaign. However, the company still appears to be facing opposition from a number of opposition groups on issues ranging from construction site location to the costs of the project.

Water industry regulator Ofwat has sought to reassure the financial community in its latest briefing to City analysts and investors in the water sector about its proposals for regulatory reform for the upcoming Price Review and beyond.

Thames Water is planning to publish a new report setting out the  environmental case for the Thames Tunnel.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has written a letter to Thames Water outlining his concern about the projected cost of the Thames Tunnel. 

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Richard Benyon has said that he “remains sceptical” on the cost of Thames Water’s proposed Thames Tunnel supersewer and that he could not possibly say that these would definitely be pegged at the current estimated level of £4.1 billion.

The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Council has called an urgent public meeting to challenge what it describes as “Thames Water’s ‘ludicrous’ decision to dump the giant super sewer drive shaft on a residential street in Fulham.”

Environment Minister Richard Benyon confirmed in the House of Commons yesterday that the projected cost of Thames Water's ‘super-sewer’ tunnel has risen from £3.6 billion to £4.1 billion. This morning the company has just announced the revised routes for the tunnel and the start of a new consultation phase.