A joint venture of Swedish giant Skanska with local companies Forest Traffic Services and RK Bell, the Somerset Infrastructure Alliance, has started work on delivering site infrastructure services for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project.

Somerset Infrastructure Alliance will carry out fencing, signage, landscaping and site road maintenance, and will also deliver a number of logistical services to help move vehicles around the site, including minor civil works, winter maintenance, traffic management, site cleaning and footway and carriageway maintenance.

The alliance will also be responsible to the co-ordination of all work carried out away from the main construction areas.

Simon White, Operations Director at Skanska, commented: “We are proud to be contributing to this project. The unique alliance arrangement that has been created with our local partners is aimed at delivering the project in a highly collaborative way whilst building a local legacy of skills and employment.”

Meanwhile, Forest Traffic Services Managing Director, Ross Williams, said they are pleased to be part of the alliance which will deliver site infrastructure services for such an important scheme, adding: “We are looking forward to working in this innovative and collaborative way with our alliance partners to provide a best quality and highly responsive service.

“This major opportunity gives us the confidence to make a major investment in recruiting and training additional local staff.”

RK Bell managing director Nick Bell added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to move into the new nuclear build sector in a collaborative way, sharing skills and knowledge along the journey.

“It has given us an opportunity to continually raise the bar across the business whilst enabling us to invest in higher levels of training and apprentice schemes. Choosing the right partners, who can work well together to deliver on the client’s requirements, has been a clear priority.”