BT has awarded Spie UK a contract for upgrade works on 23km of its tunnels under London – and Edinburgh could be next.

Spie has already completed a project to improve environmental ventilation and humidity control in the tunnels and is now installing a bespoke building management and control system for the London tunnels, due for completion in 2017. This is expected to reduce energy consumption, improve the lifecycle of plant and technical equipment and warn of flood potential.

The two assignments, worth a combined £3.3m, have seen Spie provide BT with cost planning and risk management consultancy alongside design and technical management.

Enhancements to the tunnels, which carry cabling forming the base of BT’s central communications infrastructure, are expected to save BT approximately £1.5m.

Spie began its relationship with BT in 2011 and as a result of the current tunnel works, BT has commissioned Spie to undertake a review of its tunnelling system in Edinburgh.