YORKSHIRE Water has awarded its new £5 million land and property maintenance contract to three Yorkshire firms including York-based engineering firm Mason Clark Associates.

Yorkshire Water is the second largest landowner in the region with 70,000 acres of land to look after and an array of properties.

As part of the contract, Mason Clark Associates will manage and improve Yorkshire Water's estate of houses and rural buildings, made up of mainly traditional stone structures.

Ian Cook, director of Mason Clark, said: "We are thrilled to be working with Yorkshire Water managing and upgrading their rural buildings over the next three years.

"Our company and staff are at the heart of Yorkshire and delighted to be awarded such a prominent contract within our region.

"We’ll carry out a full inspection of all the Estate buildings and develop a 25 year maintenance programme to keep them in tip top shape."

The other contract partners include Wakefield-based Freedom Group and Bedale-based Fountains Forestry.

Freedom Group will provide countryside management services to maintain and develop safe access for customers whether on foot, wheel or equestrian to the company’s reservoir catchment land, while Fountains Forestry will manage and restore the water company's 4,000 acres of ancient woodland.

Peter Garrett, head of land and property at Yorkshire Water, said: "Following a 12 month selection period, we are pleased to welcome the three new partners all of which have bases in Yorkshire.

"They will work closely with us to manage and enhance our land and properties over the next five years for Yorkshire Water and our customers."