Beckton Sewage Treatment Works AMP7 Upgrade
Beckton, East London · 2020-2024 (Construction started 2021, completion and handover in phases throughout 2024, treatment capacity upgrade completed early 2023) · £185m (AMP7 investment) [Water Projects Online]
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchExtensive use of digital engineering and off-site manufacture (DfMA) to accelerate delivery by six months [Laing O'Rourke, Water Projects Online] - Implementation of Engineered Safety approach to improve health and safety outcomes [Water Projects Online] - Development and implementation of a digital twin for asset optimization, maintenance, and investment decisions [AtkinsRealis]
Key engineering challenges
Integrating new plant with existing 150-year-old infrastructure [Laing O'Rourke] - Ensuring the plant can cope with London's growing population and receive wastewater from the Thames Tideway Tunnel [Laing O'Rourke] - Optimising performance and managing risk in an aging asset base [AtkinsRealis] - Developing a digital twin to integrate and manage data for informed decision-making [AtkinsRealis]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Thames Water
- Lead contractor
- Laing O’Rourke [Laing O'Rourke, Water Projects Online]
- Lead designers
- Atkins (SNC Lavalin) [Water Projects Online]
- Project type
- upgrade
- Scale
- Serves population equivalent of over 4 million, increasing capacity for 200,000 population equivalent [Water Projects Online]; Flow to full treatment 27m³/s, peak storm flow 32m³/s [Water Projects Online]; Two new aeration lanes (85m long, 41m wide, 8.5m deep), four new FSTs (45m diameter, 5m deep) [Water Projects Online]
- Disciplines
- Civil; structural; mechanical; electrical; process; environmental; digital engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- AMP7; CDM Regulations; Environmental Agency regulations
Sources: Laing O’Rourke: https://www.laingorourke.com/company/news/2020/thames-water-awards-major-contract-for-beckton-sewage-works-upgrade/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - Water Projects Online: https://waterprojectsonline.com/case-studies/beckton-stw-2023/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - AtkinsRealis: https://www.atkinsrealis.com/en/projects/optimising-performance-at-beckton-wastewater-treatment-works-with-a-digital-twin (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - ICE: https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/infrastructure-projects/beckton-sewage-works (Accessed: 2026-06-10)