Scottish Water unveils £13.4 billion investment plan for 2027–2033 amid regulatory review

Scottish Water has outlined a £13.4 billion capital and operating programme for 2027–2033, targeting infrastructure upgrades and climate resilience across Scotland. The proposals, subject to regulatory approval, include above-inflation charge increases and significant allocations toward asset renewal and service reliability.

Scottish Water proposes has submitted a £13.4 billion business plan covering 2027 to 2033, detailing capital and operational spending requirements to modernise Scotland’s water and wastewater networks. The publicly owned utility stated that £8 billion would be allocated to maintaining and upgrading core infrastructure, including pipelines and treatment facilities, with the balance funding operational and essential service costs.

The programme is designed to address mounting pressures from climate volatility, demographic shifts and ageing assets, while sustaining service reliability for residential and commercial users. The plan aligns with the company’s long-term sector strategy published in 2025 and forms part of the broader national vision for water sector resilience.

The proposals will undergo regulatory scrutiny by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS), which is responsible for determining allowable investment and future customer charges. A draft decision is scheduled for June 2026, followed by a final determination in October 2026 that will set tariffs and funding parameters for the six-year control period.

To finance the programme, Scottish Water has proposed annual charge increases averaging 3.3% above CPI. More than half of Scottish households currently receive some form of financial assistance, and support mechanisms are expected to remain in place. For contractors, engineering firms and infrastructure investors, the scale of planned expenditure signals sustained procurement opportunities across water treatment, asset renewal and climate adaptation projects.