The sustainability director at Balfour Beatty has left his post after the contractor merged its health and safety department with its sustainability, environment and energy division.

Heather Bryant, health and safety director at the firm, will lead the newly merged team in the new role of health, safety, environment & sustainability director.

The changes have resulted in Paul Toyne leaving his role as sustainability director and has subsequently left the company.

Paul Raby, HR director at the Balfour Beatty group, emailed staff last month to tell that this move has been done to recognise the clear links between ensuring the health and safety of workers, customers and the public, as well as the activities the company undertakes to protect and support the environments and communities in which they conduct their business.

He said that the move will provide a good opportunity for the two teams to come together regularly and move forward the strong work that has been seen so far in both areas, adding that this decision backs up the firm’s ‘Build to Last’ aims of lean, expert, trusted and safe.

In addition, Mr Raby thanked Mr Toyne for his significant contribution to the firm and wished him the best luck for his future work.

Mr Toyne spent three years with the company, during which time he was part of several industry groups, chairing the Construction Excellence Sustainability Group and also sitting on the green Construction Board’s Carbon Infrastructure Working Group.

Last month, Balfour Beatty secured a £130 million deal for a new lorry park job on the M20.

The firm said it will use the latest in Building Information Modelling to come up with the most efficient approach to the construction and design programme.

The contract will involve the firm developing proposals during the project’s early contractor involvement phase and will also take in the building of a lorry area subject to Government allowance.