Balfour Beatty, the UK’s largest infrastructure company, in partnership with National Highways, reopened the M25 over seven hours ahead of schedule, following the second full weekend closure. The M25 between Junction 9 and 10, was closed at 9pm on Friday 10 May until approximately 11pm on Sunday 12 May, to allow
A consortium of mechanical and civil engineering, and robotic automation industry leaders, including Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) Ltd (TES), i3D robotics (i3D), the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Costain, and VVB Engineering, has developed the first robotic and AI solution set to revolutionise the installation of mechanical and civil services in
The North of England contractor has been appointed across all lots tendered which includes infrastructure, treatment and environmental schemes. Northumbrian Water has named Esh Construction as an ‘ecosystem partner’ for a new framework that will support the delivery of the AMP8 capital investment programme. Esh Construction has been appointed to
Sustainable technology firm, Recycl8, has completed its first commercial project with Port of Aberdeen. The Aberdeenshire-based company in conjunction with Inverurie Pre-cast was responsible for manufacturing concrete blocks for defence at the South Breakwater of the North Harbour as well as slipway repairs for the port. The Aberdeenshire- headquartered firm
The first opening road bridge across the River Clyde has been hailed as ‘a gamechanger’ as politicians visited the site in Renfrewshire last Friday 3rd May. GRAHAM and Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson welcomed UK Government Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Lord Cameron to see the first section of the
John F Hunt has been employed directly by Belgian developer Ghelamco to undertake demolition, enabling works and the construction of ‘The HiLight’, a new 24-storey structure on the site of the former 1830s Price’s Candle Factory in Battersea. This includes the demolition of the existing steel showroom, which sits above podium level,
Engineering steel specialist, William Hare Group, has scooped a contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of a sustainable steel solution for the latest iconic development at Broadgate in London. 2 Finsbury Avenue will comprise a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium.
South Staffordshire Plc’s compliance division is delighted to welcome Nicki Hay as its new sales director. Nicki will join the senior management team overseeing all aspects of sales for the two compliance businesses, Integrated Water Services (IWS) Water Hygiene and Omega Red Group. Nicki’s background of over 20 years in
Geotechnical specialists from CAN have embarked on a 20-week programme at the Port of Dover designed to protect the chalk face by removing around 400 tonnes of loose chalk and vegetation across an area measuring 225m long and 40m high. The project is the second phase in a four-year undertaking
Global heavy lifting tower crane specialists, Marr Contracting, have been awarded the contract to deliver specialised heavy lifting crane services on the Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant (LSEP) near Northwich, Cheshire. A joint venture between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and FCC Environment, the 60MW energy from waste (EfW) plant will have
Balfour Beatty, the UK’s largest infrastructure company, in partnership with National Highways, reopened the M25 over seven hours ahead of schedule, following the second full weekend closure. The M25 between Junction 9 and 10, was closed at 9pm on Friday 10 May until approximately 11pm on Sunday 12 May, to allow for the installation of 72 beams which will form part of the M25 East Bridge as well as a new gantry, spanning the entire width of the M25 carriageway. Specialist lifting gear was needed to move the beams into place, some of which weighed 40 tonnes each. The closure marks the second of five intentional motorway closures planned and builds on the success of the first closure during which Balfour Beatty successfully demolished the Clearmount bridleway bridge and installed a large gantry weighing in at 128 tonnes and spanning 63 metres. Howard Williams, Balfour Beatty Project Director, said: “We are pleased that we have been able to complete this essential and complex work early and reopen the M25 to the travelling public ahead of schedule. “Works are progressing well on this critical scheme, and we remain on track to complete in Summer 2025. On completion, the project will significantly improve traffic congestion in the local area whilst also making journeys safer.” The M25 Junction 10 improvement scheme will increase the number of lanes to make journeys safer and to improve traffic flow; in turn, reducing the pollution caused by traffic build up. Balfour Beatty and National Highways will also install the UK’s first ever heathland bridge, connecting Ockham and Wisley commons and providing a safe, natural corridor for local wildlife. For more information about the scheme visit the National Highways website Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A consortium of mechanical and civil engineering, and robotic automation industry leaders, including Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) Ltd (TES), i3D robotics (i3D), the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Costain, and VVB Engineering, has developed the first robotic and AI solution set to revolutionise the installation of mechanical and civil services in tunnels. Traditionally, installing these services in tunnels is hazardous, labour-intensive and time-consuming. The prototype Automated Tunnel Robotic Installation System (ATRIS) can autonomously select brackets, locate where they need to be mounted along a tunnel wall, and install them. In doing so, the automated solution can improve on-site health and safety by reducing the risks associated with manual labour at the tunnel work face, for example, working at height in confined spaces, and hand-arm vibration experienced by workers during installation. Once fully-developed, the final system can be deployed in tunnel construction for a variety of sectors including transport, water and energy. It is expected to increase productivity by 40% due to faster installation, reduce installation costs for new mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems by 30%, and cut construction plant movements by 40% to decrease embodied carbon. The 22-month project, partly funded by Innovate UK’s Smart grant, was led by TES, which developed the initial concept in partnership with the consortium. Leveraging its expertise in robotics and automation, MTC spearheaded the design and manufacture of the robot’s end effectors. i3D developed crucial visualisation software for precise navigation, whilst Costain and VVB provided industry knowledge and expertise in tunnelling and fit-out requirements. Alan Worsley, Design and Project Manager at Tunnel Engineering Services (UK) Ltd said: “TES has over many years designed and manufactured Mechanised Tunnelling Machines and special purpose equipment for the construction industry. Over this time, innovation has been at the forefront of our business, and the need for automation in traditionally manual M&E fit-out techniques has led us to develop ATRIS and make it commercially viable for the market. We believe the system can offer a safer, more cost-effective and sustainable solution for future infrastructure projects.” Steve Nesbitt, Chief Technologist for the Built Environment at MTC, said: “Like many sectors, construction has faced labour challenges over the past few years which has driven greater interest in using robots, beyond manufacturing and logistics, to address these issues. By contributing our expertise to this project, we are paving the way for construction companies to adopt technology for greater control and structuring of on-site works, making infrastructure delivery safer, more productive, and more sustainable.” Dr Jon Storey, Lead Engineer at i3D, said: “Developing an automated system to install infrastructure in tunnels has been a long-standing ambition for the construction sector. ATRIS has moved us significantly closer to that goal. The use of stereo vision with machine learning and robotics to place bolts precisely on a curved surface is an unprecedented achievement, with potential applications beyond the construction sector, such as nuclear decommissioning and defence.” Lee Bateson, Mechanical and Engineering Manager and Robotics Lead at Costain, said: “Teaching the robots to learn seemingly simple tasks – such as how to avoid cross-threading the screws that go into the sockets – has been hugely fulfilling, thanks to the consortium’s collaborative spirit. Whether it’s carbon reduction, increasing productivity or improving workforce health and safety, this is transformative technology that will have enormous benefits for the customers that we build tunnels for.”Nicholas Beedle, Group Operations Director at VVB Engineering, said:“Tunnel works historically are expensive to build and maintain, and in the higher risk bracket for safety during construction and operation. It is important that ongoing improvements are made to address both of these issues. The development of the robotic AI solution is a step towards solving both of these industry challenges.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The North of England contractor has been appointed across all lots tendered which includes infrastructure, treatment and environmental schemes. Northumbrian Water has named Esh Construction as an ‘ecosystem partner’ for a new framework that will support the delivery of the AMP8 capital investment programme. Esh Construction has been appointed to deliver across three lots within the ecosystem framework known as Infrastructure Civil Engineering, Treatment and Civils, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. The framework agreement, which runs for up to 12 years, will involve planned rehabilitation work and capital projects worth up to £5 million across Northumbrian Water’s water and wastewater network. The estimated value of the lots range from £0-£5 million to £20m-£40 million per annum. David Pratt, Divisional Director at Esh Construction, said: “Securing a place on the ecosystem framework builds on many years of successfully delivering repair and maintenance, planned rehabilitation and capital infrastructure projects on past and present Northumbrian Water frameworks. It is testament to the hard work of everyone involved that we can continue this collaboration and strengthen our pipeline of work by circa £25 million each year.” The introduction of the framework’s environmental lot for the first time provides an opportunity for Esh Construction to bring experience to the fore from similar projects in line with delivery requirements. A specialist drainage solutions division, launched in 2022, also bolsters Esh’s offering of CCTV and cleansing services as well as trenchless rehabilitation techniques, ranging from small diameter LED cured liners, to larger, structural UV cured liners. “Our proven ability to manage and coordinate these works has been strengthened significantly by our in-house team of specialist drainage operatives and bespoke vehicles which allows us to provide a complete approach to sewer rehabilitation alongside established delivery partners,” said Esh’s Frameworks Director, Norman Barnett. As a regional contractor committed to creating opportunities for new entrants to join the construction industry, Esh plans to grow its team of apprentices within the drainage sector following the latest award. After recruiting 12 last year, this year Esh’s focus will be to recruit Drainage Network Operatives, a brand-new apprenticeship specifically designed for working on the wastewater network. Barnett added: “Esh Construction is a regional contractor and this long-term framework will provide job security and career opportunities within our local communities, as well as investment with our local supply chain. We look forward to getting started.” The latest announcement concludes NWG’s procurement in preparation for its £3.6bn AMP8 capital investment programme. Earlier this year, Esh Construction’s joint venture with Stantec was named as a partner for the Living Water Enterprise which will deliver long cycle and higher complexity programmes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sustainable technology firm, Recycl8, has completed its first commercial project with Port of Aberdeen. The Aberdeenshire-based company in conjunction with Inverurie Pre-cast was responsible for manufacturing concrete blocks for defence at the South Breakwater of the North Harbour as well as slipway repairs for the port. The Aberdeenshire- headquartered firm was chosen for the project due to its strong commitment to environmental sustainability – a key priority for Port of Aberdeen as they strive to be the UK’s first net zero port by 2040. Recycl8 partnered with construction materials specialists, Breedon Group, to supply their patented solution of sustainable, lower carbon R8 Mix concrete for the project which is the latest in a series of successful pours carried out this year by Recycl8 across a number of sectors including industrial and housing, as well as their first marine project with the Port of Ardersier earlier this month. Working with Port of Aberdeen marks another significant achievement for Recycl8; gaining a new client affirms the growing recognition within the marketplace of the necessity for sustainable concrete solutions. Mark Gillespie, CEO of Recycl8, said: “We are thrilled to have carried out our first small-scale marine project with Port of Aberdeen and to be able to offer a solution which contributes to their environmental sustainability goals. We believe that our R8 Mix is the future of sustainable construction. “It is fantastic for Recycl8 to be involved in such an infrastructure development in Aberdeen and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Port of Aberdeen and supporting them in future marine projects.” Head of Engineering at Port of Aberdeen, John Wilson, added: “Our vision is to become the UK’s first net zero port by 2040 and that requires new and innovative ways of working. We are investing heavily in becoming a leading exemplar in environmental stewardship and sustainability, and Recycl8’s work slipway repair work supports that ambition.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The first opening road bridge across the River Clyde has been hailed as ‘a gamechanger’ as politicians visited the site in Renfrewshire last Friday 3rd May. GRAHAM and Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson welcomed UK Government Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Lord Cameron to see the first section of the road bridge which was installed last week. Working on behalf of our client Renfrewshire Council the new bridge is part of the £117million Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project, funded as part of the £1.13billion Glasgow City Region City Deal. Since construction has commenced, GRAHAM has supported more than 950 jobs and generated hundreds of subcontract and supplier opportunities, many of which were taken up by local Renfrewshire businesses. The new Renfrew Bridge will connect Renfrew with Clydebank and Yoker and open up work, health, education and leisure opportunities on both sides of the Clyde – with the potential for thousands of additional jobs, fresh investment and new developments brought to the riverside. In addition to the new bridge, the project will create additional connecting roads, cycling and walking routes which will link Inchinnan Road in Renfrew with Yoker Railway Station, using the new Renfrew North Development Road. It will also see improved access for businesses and suppliers to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS), which is Scotland’s home of manufacturing innovation AMIDS and is being developed by the Council in collaboration with Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. The south section of the 184-metre cable-stayed twin-leaf bridge has been installed on the Renfrew side of the river at Meadowside Street with the second section of the bridge due to arrive later this month, to be fixed into place at Dock Street in Clydebank – bringing a direct link across the Clyde between the two towns for the first time. Jim Armour, GRAHAM Contracts Manager said: “The project brings many opportunities for Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City region – opening doors on both sides of the river with the construction of the new bridge, connecting roads and active travel routes. The team have worked incredibly hard to reach this significant milestone and now focus on the second section of the bridge arriving later this month.” Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “This project is going to be a gamechanger not only for the two towns, but for wider Renfrewshire and the Glasgow City Region. “The investment of £117million into Renfrewshire through this project outlines this council’s continued ability to deliver nationally significant projects successfully – with the renovation of Paisley Town Hall into one of Scotland’s top entertainment venues, the creation of the Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub, and the ongoing transformation of Paisley Museum into a world-class visitor destination further proof of positive capital investment we are bringing to the area. “The new bridge, and its new connecting roads and active travel routes, will offer opportunities on both sides of the river – not only for connectivity and leisure, but for access to new homes, developments and highly skilled jobs within the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) based at Netherton next to Glasgow Airport.” The bridge is due to be completed ahead of schedule and be fully operational for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in Autumn 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
John F Hunt has been employed directly by Belgian developer Ghelamco to undertake demolition, enabling works and the construction of ‘The HiLight’, a new 24-storey structure on the site of the former 1830s Price’s Candle Factory in Battersea. This includes the demolition of the existing steel showroom, which sits above podium level, followed by the excavation of a single-story basement, complicated owing to the presence of an existing Thames Water sewer which bisects the site. Following demolition, enabling works will commence by installing a combination of sheet and secant piling followed by the bearing piles to create a large basement box. The RC structure will then be carefully built back to ground level in a sequential manner, around and above the Thames Water sewer. Basement completed, John F Hunt will build the 24-storey RC frame, starting with the core using the slip form method, following on with the RC slabs. Hunt will then hand over to Ghelmaco’s in-house construction team, ready for the next phase in the creation of The HiLight’s luxury waterfront apartments. John F Hunt’s Head of Civils and Structures, Lance Wimble, said, “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with Ghelamco on this high-profile historic building. However, it does have its complications, as the site is on a busy bus route and has a significant sewer running underneath it.” The 250,500 sqft ‘The HiLight’ development will transform the site into 113 landmark luxury waterfront homes with amenities that are heavily focused on health and wellbeing, views of the Thames and easy access to London’s transport links. ‘The HiLight’ will also meet the gold standard in sustainability with credentials such as EDGE Certification as well as being carbon neutral. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Engineering steel specialist, William Hare Group, has scooped a contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of a sustainable steel solution for the latest iconic development at Broadgate in London. 2 Finsbury Avenue will comprise a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium. A solid and glazed sawtooth-shaped façade, characterised by triangular patterns, will be facilitated by a steelwork support system. The new building will be the largest on the Broadgate campus, providing 750,000 sq ft of new offices, as well as green, leisure and publicly accessible spaces. The building will create a new benchmark for highly sustainable workspace in central London with BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, EPC A and NABERS 5-star ratings. It will be all-electric, and a smart-enabled development ensuring leading carbon and energy efficiency in operation. William Hare Group has designed its steel solution to align with the project’s overall sustainability goals, including using LEAN design principles with the supply chain. Having successfully delivered nearby 100 Liverpool Street and 1 Broadgate, William Hare’s partnership on 2 Finsbury Avenue – working with Sir Robert McAlpine – will further extend its longstanding association with the Broadgate joint venture, between British Land and GIC. Matthew Nesbit, Group Board Director at William Hare Group, commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed at 2 Finsbury Avenue, as an extension of the work we have already delivered on the Broadgate development. “Being able to bring our design, fabrication and delivery capability to life on schemes like this is testament to our market-leading position as a global steel specialist.” Completion is expected in 2027, with global hedge fund firm, Citadel, and Citadel Securities pre-letting over a third of the development’s office space. William Hare Group is expected to have completed its works by summer 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
South Staffordshire Plc’s compliance division is delighted to welcome Nicki Hay as its new sales director. Nicki will join the senior management team overseeing all aspects of sales for the two compliance businesses, Integrated Water Services (IWS) Water Hygiene and Omega Red Group. Nicki’s background of over 20 years in senior sales leadership means that she brings with her a wealth of experience specialising in people and process development, sales leadership, sales analysis and sales and marketing improvement. Nicki is customer focused with a passion for developing individuals, sales teams, and strong customer relationships. Neil Shailer, managing director of South Staffordshire Plc’s compliance division commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Nicki to the team as sales director. With Nicki’s vast experience in sales and passion for forging strong customer relationships, I’m confident that she will be an invaluable member of our leadership team and play a fundamental part in our continued success and growth.” The compliance division of the Group offers lightning protection services, electrical earthing solutions, height safety solutions, Legionella control, water treatment and air hygiene services all of which help clients achieve compliance to a range of relevant standards and regulation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Geotechnical specialists from CAN have embarked on a 20-week programme at the Port of Dover designed to protect the chalk face by removing around 400 tonnes of loose chalk and vegetation across an area measuring 225m long and 40m high. The project is the second phase in a four-year undertaking at the busy port with CAN, an RSK Group company, taking on the role of principal contractor for the chalk face stabilisation works. The project has been carefully planned to take into account port operations, while being mindful of the impact on wildlife, including nesting birds. CAN Geotechnical Project Manager Andy Pope said: “The team is very excited to work on a project associated with protecting such a quintessentially British landmark. Of course, our work is crucial from a very practical perspective: to make sure that the area remains safe for those who work in the Port of Dover. We will achieve this through a combination of light and heavy scaling to prepare the cliff face for further safety measures designed to prevent loose chalk falling from the cliff. The light scaling work will be carried out using small hand tools, supported by heavy scaling using excavators with bucket attachments. “Increasingly, CAN is being called on to advise on cliff stabilisation strategies. Coastal erosion is a challenge that has hit the headlines in recent months across the UK, but regular evaluation and maintenance work such as this can make all the difference.” The CAN team, which has previously worked on Brighton’s chalk cliffs, will also remove material including an old catch fence, cranked palisade fencing, existing steel hoarding and large concrete blocks. Andy said: “Once we have removed these materials and scaled the cliff face to remove loose chalk, we will install a 225m long, 5m high rock fall barrier or catch fence, which is part of the rock fall barrier systems designed to collect and retain any future loose chalk. There will also be periodic maintenance work carried out to remove any rocks from the catch fence.” The CAN Geotechnical team is well known for putting its rope access skills to impressive use at considerable heights, but, while this is a feature for some of the Dover cliffs work, mobile elevated platforms and excavators will provide the main points of access. These will deliver technicians to heights of 40m, allowing them to evaluate and remove loose chalk. Andy said: “The mobile platforms and excavators are more suitable in this instance, as the cliff crest is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This equipment is safe and efficient, ensuring minimal disruption to this sensitive environment. The team will also use a large rotating telehandler with modifications designed by CAN to make this suitable to drill into the cliff face to secure the high-level catch fence and upslope supporting anchors.” The team has worked closely with the Port of Dover to tackle logistical challenges such as planning ahead to ensure team, material and plant deliveries comply with the Port of Dover requirements and UK border control. CAN has been supported by another RSK company on the project, RSK SafeGround, which provided ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveying services. These are vital for a project such as this, as GPR is used to identify any buried or hidden services that could potentially impact on the work. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global heavy lifting tower crane specialists, Marr Contracting, have been awarded the contract to deliver specialised heavy lifting crane services on the Lostock Sustainable Energy Plant (LSEP) near Northwich, Cheshire. A joint venture between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and FCC Environment, the 60MW energy from waste (EfW) plant will have the capacity to process 600,000 tonnes of waste per year – producing enough power for 125,000 homes. LSEP has appointed global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch as the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor to support LSEP in delivering its Energy from Waste facility at the Lostock Works site near Northwich. Babcock & Wilcox Renewable, a segment of the global Clean Energy technology group within Babcock & Wilcox, has also been appointed to support the delivery of the power train, which is the heart of the energy generation and environmental performance of the plant. Working in conjunction with Black & Veatch, Marr developed a two-crane solution utilising the world’s largest capacity luffing tower crane, the M2480D. The solution offers lift capacities of up to 110 tonnes and a reach of up to 73 metres to lift the 70-tonne drum and boiler waterwalls weighing 85 tonnes. The first erected M2480D is founded on the Marr Transit System (MTS) – a rail system that extends the reach and coverage of the tower crane over the site without any loss of capacity. The second M2480D is installed on a static base. The solution will support Black & Veatch’s preferred MMC / DfMA methodology by allowing larger sections of plant and equipment weighing up to 85 tonnes to be installed in fewer lifts. “We’re excited to be working in the UK with a client like Black & Veatch who can see the benefits that the right cranage solution can deliver to a project. With the ability to lift in larger, heavier components, our approach will reduce the number of lifts required, helping to deliver a safer, more productive site,” said Marr’s Managing Director, Simon Marr. “Marr’s experience in the successful delivery of similar large-scale EfW plants in Australia and the Middle East is ideally suited to emerging trends in the UK. Larger plants demand more efficient construction solutions and can really benefit from the use of technology such as the Marr Transit System,” said Steve Ryder, General Manager – International, Marr Contracting. The LSEP is currently under construction and expected to be operational by 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
