Thames Water has completed a procurement exercise worth up to £160m, designed to address future challenges in water supply.

The Programme Partner Framework, a component of the company's Strategic Resource Options (SRO) Programme, will support several strategic projects, including a potential new reservoir in Oxfordshire and a new river abstraction point on the River Thames.

By partnering with firms possessing vast experience in managing large infrastructure projects, Thames Water aims to not only ensure efficient delivery of these projects but also to deal with an estimated increased daily water demand from its customers of one billion litres over the next half-century.

The company has selected three partners for this framework: Arcadis Consulting (UK), Jacobs & Mott MacDonald JV, and Turner & Townsend Project Management.

Simon Adams, programme director for the SROs said: "Following on from the recent announcement of our Technical Partner Framework, the implementation of the Programme Partner Framework marks another significant step forward for our Strategic Resource Options Programme.

"Together, these frameworks give us access to the breadth of specialist services required to ensure our projects are delivered efficiently and effectively."

Head of procurement and Supply chain, Mohit Farmah added: "We look forward to working in collaboration with our new partners to deliver this programme of innovative projects, which will protect the environment and secure the future water supply for customers, in the face of population growth and climate change."