WILLMOTT DIXON marks the beginning of its 20th year since its appointment to SCAPE’s national construction framework.
Established in 2006, the Willmott Dixon and SCAPE partnership has enabled the delivery of almost 600 public sector projects across England and Wales, with a combined value of more than £6bn. Together the businesses have helped to deliver schools, blue-light, health and defence facilities, town centre regeneration schemes, and community assets – all with a shared commitment to driving social value, sustainability and local economic benefit.
Graham Dundas, chief executive officer at Willmott Dixon, said: “It is incredible that our partnership and journey with SCAPE now spans two decades. So many of our people have been involved in that time, delivering fantastic projects, and a real positive impact and legacy in their local communities. That’s something we are very proud of.
“During that time, we’ve proven the power of collaboration and maintained collective success as the landscape has continued to evolve – through changes to procurement and social value legislation, and the Building Safety Act, for example.
“This is a moment for us to celebrate our achievements and reinforce our commitment to shaping the future of the built environment. Together, we’re in a stronger position to create sustainable, future-ready places and spaces for people to thrive. Our continued partnership with SCAPE is an important part of our ability to deliver brilliant buildings for our customers.”
Since 2006, Willmott Dixon has delivered £672m in social return on investment through SCAPE-procured schemes, consistently supporting communities local to its projects. The organisation’s work has maintained a strong local focus, with £1.6bn spent within 20 miles of SCAPE-procured project sites, 93% of project spend with SMEs, and 55% of project labour sourced locally – ensuring the benefits of its work are felt directly by the people and places it serves.
Consistently high-quality outcomes are further demonstrated by ambitious sustainability standards achieved on projects, proven through well-recognised certifications such as WELL Platinum. This is the case at Willmott Dixon’s £55m project for Hertfordshire Constabulary to redevelop its headquarters, which is expected to complete next year – when Willmott Dixon and SCAPE will celebrate a full 20 years of partnership.
Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “This remarkable milestone represents over two decades of strong collaboration with Willmott Dixon, resulting in the successful delivery of nearly 600 projects — from the flagship £12.8m Riga office development in Gateshead to the £28m refurbishment of the West Midlands Police headquarters. Generating £672m in social return on investment speaks volumes about the value and positive change this partnership continues to deliver— not just for our clients, but for local communities across the UK – and is something we are incredibly proud to be a part of.”
Shared aspirations around sustainability and social value have been key to the partnership’s success. In support of the UK’s net-zero aims and to meet customer ambitions, the partnership has delivered innovative projects, including:
- A net-zero carbon in operation transport hub for North Tyneside Council, awarded Low Carbon Project of the Year at the Construction News Awards 2024.
- City centre regeneration and over 400% biodiversity net gain through the Green Heart at Broad Marsh for Nottingham City Council.
Scott Corey, chief of strategic services and accounts at Willmott Dixon, said: “Back in 2006, I was working as a planner on our very first SCAPE project – Southwick and South Shields Police Station for Northumbria Police. It was the first to break ground under the framework, and there was a real sense that we were doing something different – something important. Around the same time, we started working with Gateshead Council on five new leisure centres – projects that were all about improving health and wellbeing in the community.
“Even then, you could see the potential of the partnership to make a real difference. It’s amazing to look back now and see how much it’s grown over the last 20 years.”
Working together, Willmott Dixon and SCAPE support public sector customers across a myriad of sectors with feasibility and viability studies, ensuring value-for-money and compliance, and leaving a positive economic and social impact.
There is a breadth of public sector projects procured through SCAPE that are underway with Willmott Dixon today. They include:
- A 52,000 sq ft digital tech hub for Doncaster Council.
- A £15.8m decarbonisation scheme for North Herts Council to ensure three of its leisure centres are fit for the future.
- 82 new eco homes for Caerphilly County Borough Council – with 44 classifiedas affordable housing.
- The £19m STEM Building for Chichester College.
- And the new £9.6m Whitby Maritime Training Hub for North Yorkshire Council, to upskill a new generation of maritime industry professionals.
To learn more about Willmott Dixon, visit www.willmottdixon.co.uk
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