Water firm splashes out £3.5bn

The company has revealed it plans to spend more than 3.5bn on

improving beaches and drinking water, as well as protecting their sewage treatment works and has invested in new offices at Livingstone House in Clarence Dock, Leeds.

A new report by the University of Leeds has calculated that for every 1 Yorkshire Water spends, a further 90p of wealth is generated in the local economy. A spokesman said that means the company's 1.9bn investment in infrastructure and 1.5bn in operating expenditure will create more than 6bn for the economy over the next five years.

Chief operating officer at Yorkshire Water Richard Flint said: "As a company, we don't just pump water into our region. We also pump

millions of pounds into the local economy.

"Over the next five years we'll be spending 3.5bn to improve our water and sewage network and the region's beaches, bathing waters and rivers –that's 2m every day pumping into the Yorkshire economy.

"As a major local employer in Yorkshire, this investment will have a hugely positive effect on the region's economic growth, with the benefits of this expected to be felt in the pockets of people right across Yorkshire.

"What's more, most of the knock-on spending from our suppliers and colleagues is expected to be retained within the region, which is great news for the local economy at a time when it's most needed."

Mr Flint was speaking yesterday at the official opening of the Clarence Dock offices.

The building, opened by Normanton MP and Schools Secretary Ed Balls, will house a 500 strong asset delivery unit responsible for the implementation of infrastructure improvement projects over the next

five years. Work on the ground is due to begin from next month.