by David Jones

A Kent-based water company has awarded a contract which could be worth up to £500 million to the winning firm over the next 10 years.

South East Water, which has its headquarters in Snodland, has signed a partnership deal with Clancy Docwra, one of the largest utility and construction companies in the UK.

The contract - the single, largest contract ever awarded by South East Water - will see Clancy Docwra undertake all the repair and maintenance work on the company's extensive water main network, lay all its strategic water mains, and install 375,000 meters at customers' homes.

The contract has been awarded up until 2016, with the option for both parties to agree undertaking this work for a further five-year period until 2021.

Contracts were formally signed at a meeting of the South East Water Board recently by Gordon Maxwell, chairman of South East Water, and Kevin Clancy, joint chairman of Clancy Docwra.

It follows several months of an intense process by the company to secure a contractor to deliver the ongoing improvements works to its extensive water supply network - which includes 14,500km of underground pipes alone - across its supply area of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey.

South East Water managing director Paul Butler: "We are delighted to have joined in partnership with Clancy Docwra, who will deliver key elements of our day-to-day operational work, as well as a substantial part of our capital programme.

"Our own team of staff will be working alongside them to help ensure this work is delivered safely, efficiently and with excellent customer service at its core."

The new contract started on April 1, 2011.

* South East Water was formed in 2007 after a merger between Mid Kent Water and South East Water. The company supplies homes and businesses in many areas of the county, including Maidstone, Canterbury, Ashford, Sevenoaks, Kent coastal towns as far as Herne Bay and a small part of Medway.