The company behind London’s super sewer has published a new report detailing how its original vision – reconnecting London with the River Thames – became a reality, and how this founding vision drove a broader programme of benefits to London.  

Tideway was set up in 2015 to deliver the Thames Tideway Tunnel – a £4.6bn infrastructure project designed to transform the health of the River Thames by eliminating the harmful effects of sewage pollution.  

Work began in 2016, and by February of 2025, the tunnel was fully connected and protecting the River Thames.    

But early on the Tideway team recognised the once-in-a-generation opportunity to do much more – not just to improve the health of the Thames, but to create new public spaces; revitalise the marine economy in London; bring Londoners closer to their river through on-water recreation and volunteering; support the communities in which it worked; and much more. 

John Sage, Tideway’s head of corporate responsibility, said: “London’s new super sewer is a crucial addition to the city’s sewerage network, and will transform the health of the tidal Thames for many, many generations to come. 

“But the impact of the project beyond its core scope will be felt far and wide – three acres of new land, thoughtfully designed to bring people closer to the river; new river skills and training standards; and a decade of partnerships with river charities and other organisations supported by over 33,000 hours of volunteering from our staff. 

“This new report encapsulates the broad legacy of the Tideway project. We think it shows how UK infrastructure schemes can result in long-term social impact beyond their core engineering mission by clearly establishing their wider purpose and then delivering against it with the same energy and excellence as they brought to constructing the asset.” 

  The report – Turning a Vision into a Lasting Legacy – details the planning and delivery for Tideway’s legacy objectives, and includes sections on the project’s programmes around public realm, river logistics and ‘river reconnection’ community partnerships.   

The full 11-page report is available here, while more detail and a range of other reports, including Tideway’s 2024 sustainability report, is available here.