AMP8, or Asset Management Period 8, is the UK water industry’s next five-year regulatory cycle. Running from April 2025 to March 2030 and overseen by Ofwat, it brings a record-breaking £104 billion investment, 77% more than the previous AMP7 cycle.
This isn’t just a funding uplift. AMP8 is a reset. A chance to modernise infrastructure, strengthen environmental protections, and rebuild trust across the sector — all while accelerating towards net-zero.
What is AMP8?
AMP8 sets out how UK water companies will invest, operate, and improve over the next five years. It aligns closely with the Environment Act 2021 and national climate goals, with a sharp focus on sustainability, resilience, and digital innovation.
Headline targets include:
- Cut storm overflow spills by 45% by 2030
- Invest £12 billion in overflow infrastructure
- Allocate £6 billion to reduce nutrient pollution
- Track 23 performance metrics covering emissions, biodiversity, and pollution
What makes AMP8 different?
AMP8 responds to four major industry challenges — with urgency and scale:
- Water scarcity: England could face a shortfall of 3.4 billion litres a day by 2050. AMP8 funds new drought resilience projects.
- Leakage: One in five litres of public supply is lost every day. AMP8 supports smart detection and infrastructure upgrades.
- Public trust: After years of scrutiny, AMP8 introduces tougher standards and greater transparency.
- Skills gap: Around 100,000 new workers are needed to meet delivery goals and replace retiring staff.
- Clean Power 2030 is going on at the exact same time - £200 billion by 2030.
How will the £104 billion be spent?
Ofwat has approved major funding across every region.
The sector’s investment priorities are clear:
Infrastructure resilience
- Upgrade treatment works, pipelines, and pumping stations
- Build long-term supply security through reservoirs and interconnectors
Environmental protection
- Reduce storm overflows and pollution incidents
- Expand nature-based solutions like wetlands
- Improve river health and local biodiversity
Customer service and affordability
- Keep bills stable despite record investment
- Support vulnerable households
- Strengthen delivery performance obligations
Why digital transformation matters
Delivering AMP8 requires more than investment — it demands smarter delivery. Digital tools are no longer optional. They’re critical for meeting targets, managing risk, and compliance.
Think:
- Smart water networks
- Smart asset management
- Real-time monitoring
- Predictive maintenance
- Data-led decision making
- Digital ID for utility workers
Ofwat is encouraging innovation through its funding programmes. But delivery partners must step up too. Water companies now expect integrated, digital-ready supply chains.
Get ready: what to focus on now
April 2025 has arrived. Whether you're a utility or a delivery partner, this is the time to act.
Here’s how to get ahead:
- Align your offering to AMP8’s goals
- Build digital capability – including workforce platforms like Utilities Passport
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Get a skills plan in place – skills will be the biggest challenge of AMP8. How can you secure and protect your workforce, meeting demand and ensuring safety?
This is the moment
AMP8 isn’t just another regulatory cycle. It’s a once-in-a-generation chance to future-proof UK water. To lead with data, build with purpose, and deliver with confidence.
To do this, you need a digital skills passport. Causeway have built one specifically for the utilities sector and it's called Utilities Passport.
