Led by Scottish Water in partnership with m2—a joint venture between Stantec and Mott MacDonald—and wider industry partners, the Improving Urban Waters (IUW) Programme is setting new standards for urban water quality across Scotland. To deliver on challenging regulatory commitments, the IUW model brings together strategic planning, technical design, field services, and construction in a fully integrated one team model.
With 250 solutions to be developed and over 100 to be delivered by December 2027, significant efficiencies were required. The collaborative approach has helped projects get to site in one third of the time of traditional methods, reducing planning time from four years to just 18 months. Standardised designs and off-site manufacturing have streamlined approvals, reduced costs, and lowered carbon emissions. The programme’s sustainability focus includes use of low-carbon materials, 3D printing, and recycled infrastructure, resulting in measurable environmental gains such as reduced spills and cleaner rivers.
In addition to our role within Scottish Water’s Integrator Group, we are serving as a critical member of the leadership team, providing strategic oversight in both programme governance and technical management. This is instrumental in defining and formalising the route map commitments to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, supporting alignment with regulatory and operational objectives. Furthermore, we’ve delivered substantial guidance on product development and delivery strategies, leveraging collaborative frameworks and standardisation practices.
IUW’s agile, lean delivery model has improved governance, enhanced community engagement, and fostered a motivated workforce. The programme is serving as the pilot for Scottish Water’s future Enterprise Model—an integrated, collaborative delivery approach that brings together Scottish Water, designers, contractors and specialist partners as one team. IUW demonstrates how partnership and innovation can accelerate progress, delivering lasting benefits for customers, communities, and the environment across the UK water sector.
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