LONDON, April 24, 2026, 20:04 BST
- United Utilities has launched three projects aimed at reducing storm overflow usage in Bury, Prestwich, and Whitefield.
- This work lands in the opening stretch of AMP8, the 2025-30 investment cycle for the water sector—the first full year.
- Investors will get their next look at delivery numbers and expenses when the company posts full-year results on May 14.
United Utilities Group PLC has kicked off water-quality projects topping £34 million across Bury, Prestwich and Whitefield, targeting the company’s promise to cut storm overflow discharges into the River Irwell and its tributaries. These overflow sites, designed to relieve pressure during heavy rainfall, have drawn scrutiny from regulators and locals alike.
Timing is key here. Even as Ofwat’s 2025-30 price review is set to push customer costs higher, figures from the Consumer Council for Water reveal United Utilities’ average household bill jumping to £585 by 2029-30, up from £442 in 2024-25, excluding inflation.
Investors are watching the clock here. United Utilities will deliver its full-year numbers for the period ended March 31 on May 14. As of 20:04 BST, shares traded at 1,339.50 pence, slipping 0.37% on Davy’s 20-minute delayed feed.
Bury’s wastewater treatment site is set for a £28 million overhaul, as two storm tanks—each with a 3,000 cubic metre capacity—are slated to finish up in June. Over in Prestwich, construction is underway for a £2.5 million underground storage tank. Whitefield’s £3.7 million project brings a smaller tank plus sewer upgrades. All told, these schemes add more than 6,100 cubic metres of extra storage.
Chris Borradaile, wastewater services director at United Utilities, described the trio of projects as “another important step.” He said added storm storage and sewer improvements are expected to limit how frequently overflows kick in locally. The company links the scheme to what it calls the biggest wastewater investment programme in the North West in 100 years. United Utilities
United Utilities’ Bury projects are part of its broader £13 billion AMP8 programme, covering the regulatory investment stretch through 2030. Back in March, the company said the plan should boost river and sea quality, bolster service reliability, and back regional growth.
United Utilities highlighted what it calls recent gains, citing Environment Agency data from last month: spill incidents dropped by 22% in 2025, with duration down 27%. That translates to 16,974 fewer spills and 123,325 fewer hours. “Another year of progress,” Chief Executive Louise Beardmore said, while adding, “there’s more to do.” United Utilities
It’s an unflattering peer group, but investors keep comparing all the same. United Utilities gets lumped in with the likes of Severn Trent Water, where the average bill is on track to hit £583 by 2029-30, and South West Water—which, as part of the Pennon Group, is looking at £610. Those numbers have both utilities firmly in the “listed-water” camp, and the question for the market remains whether steeper bills will actually deliver cleaner rivers. CCW
United Utilities, in its March pre-close update, projected underlying earnings per share at roughly 100 pence for 2025/26, based on figures before an accounting change. The company flagged that this change should shave about £35 million off its underlying net finance expense, nudging underlying EPS up by around 5 pence.
Delivery, not demand, is where the trouble lies. United Utilities picked up just two stars—“requires improvement”—in the Environment Agency’s 2024 Environmental Performance Assessment. The company logged 347 sewerage pollution incidents this year and got a red mark for the total number. New storage tanks won’t be a silver bullet if more heavy rain hits, project timelines slip, costs keep rising, or there’s another pollution mishap. Gov
Just putting money to work isn’t enough under Ofwat’s framework. The regulator keeps its eye on whether United Utilities can actually deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment—performance commitments track those results. And if the company’s data isn’t solid, Ofwat warns it could step in. United Utilities needs to prove those projects deliver real change, not just higher spending.
United Utilities can point to the Bury package as near-term evidence, for now. Management has signed on to the major regulatory plan. What’s tougher: demonstrating at each scheme that North West customers’ bigger bills are actually resulting in fewer spills.
