Ashurst is advising the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the landmark £4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel project, which was yesterday given the go-ahead.
Thames Water chose special purpose company, Bazalgette Tunnel Limited as its preferred bidder to finance, build and own the London super-sewer project in July. Ofwat has now granted a project licence to the consortium as a new regulated utilities business, separate from Thames Water.
The project is designed to tackle the discharge of untreated sewage into the tidal River Thames through central London and to increase capacity in the London sewerage network. The tunnel will be approximately 25km long, 7,2m in diameter and will run up to 65 metres below the River Thames.
Commenting, infrastructure partner Philip Vernon, said: "Awarding the licence is key stage in the delivery of the project to modernise London's sewerage system. This is an exciting development for all involved in the project."
The Ashurst team is being led by partner Philip Vernon and finance partner Derwin Jenkinson, assisted by senior associate Krista Payne and associate Sam Outtridge. Partners Mark Elsey, Patrick Boyle and Michael Smith are also advising. Competition advice is being provided by partners Euan Burrows and Neil Cuninghame. The team also comprises senior associates Karen Braakman, John Broadhead, Nicholas Ross-McCall, Conor Funston, associates Alison Thomson and Ari Garas and trainee Luiza Wojciske.
