Continues Costain’s track record of delivering predictably as it upgrades pipeline through to 2029 Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has marked the completion of five years of its Contract Management Organisation (CMO) contract with Cadent by delivering 1625km of gas main line. Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network managing more than 131,000km of pipes and transporting gas to 11 million customers. Since 2021, Costain has been tasked with upgrading more than 300km of gas mains each year in Cadent’s East of England network.   The progress, which has involved more than 230,000 reinstated excavations and 160,000m3 tonnes of backfill and top material, means that 168,000 homes have now had new gas mains and supplies installed. The upgrades support a more resilient energy network by reducing the risk of supply disruption to households and businesses in the region. Costain has consistently ensured best-in-class results in health and safety, programme management, commercial and operational excellence, and customer satisfaction scores. This strong performance led to Costain in 2024 seeing the initial five-year contract being extended to run to eight years, through to 2029. Alan Cheung, Energy Sector Director at Costain, said: “This is a fantastic milestone that is testament to Costain’s reputation of delivering predictably and efficiently. Over the last five years we have cultivated productive and collaborative working relationships with Cadent and our local supply chain teams, which have enabled us to maintain the highest safety, quality and efficiency standards and achieve record customer satisfaction scores. “As we embark to the next phase of the project, we’ll be working closely with Cadent to ensure this transformative scheme continues to improve the lives of millions of people in the East of England whilst making the UK’s energy system more resilient for future generations.” Victoria Grieve, Network Director for the East of England at Cadent said: “Costain has been a trusted partner to Cadent for years. It is helping us deliver our major investment programme to enhance the gas network, keeping millions of people warm in their homes and supporting the transition to lower-carbon gases.“The last five years have seen the network undergo significant enhancements and this milestone illustrates the collaborative partnership between ourselves, Costain and its supply chain, and we’re excited to continue pressing on with these upgrades together.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a pivotal contract with Great British Energy – Nuclear to deliver the UK’s first generation of Small Modular Reactors, marking a major milestone for both the energy and construction sectors. The agreement follows the company’s selection as preferred technology partner in June last year, with £2.6 billion earmarked in the 2025 Spending Review to support the wider rollout of the programme. The first project is set to be developed at Wylfa on Anglesey in North Wales, where construction is expected to support around 3,000 jobs at peak delivery, alongside thousands more across the national supply chain. The scheme represents a significant pipeline of work spanning advanced manufacturing, infrastructure delivery and specialist engineering. Under the terms of the contract, Rolls-Royce SMR will progress site-specific design, regulatory approvals and planning activities, moving the project closer to a final investment decision. The programme is based on a standardised, factory-built approach, aimed at improving cost efficiency and programme certainty compared with traditional nuclear construction. The company plans to deliver three SMR units in the UK, with each facility capable of generating enough electricity to power approximately one million homes. The modular nature of the technology is expected to drive demand for off-site manufacturing, logistics hubs and highly specialised industrial facilities. A consortium including BAM Nuttall, Laing O’Rourke and Atkins is supporting the development of the SMR design, bringing together expertise across engineering, construction and project delivery. Chris Cholerton, chief executive of Rolls-Royce SMR, said the agreement provides clarity and momentum for the programme, enabling the transition from planning into delivery. He added that the scheme will play a key role in strengthening the UK’s energy security while creating long-term opportunities for the construction sector and domestic supply chain. The deal highlights the growing importance of nuclear-led infrastructure in driving industrial development, with SMRs positioned to reshape how large-scale energy assets are designed, manufactured and delivered across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Engineering consultancy Arup has been appointed to carry out early-stage design and engineering work for the UK’s first small modular reactor (SMR), planned for the Wylfa site on Anglesey. Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) confirmed that Arup will provide early-phase foundation engineering and design support as the landmark project begins to take shape. Small modular reactors are designed to accelerate the construction of new nuclear power generation. Their smaller, factory-built components are intended to simplify construction compared with traditional nuclear plants. SMRs are also expected to play a key role in supporting intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, helping to maintain electricity supply during periods of low generation, sometimes referred to as a dunkelflaute or “dark doldrums”. They could also provide direct power connections for major industrial energy users. Plans for the Wylfa scheme were confirmed in November 2025, when GBE-N announced proposals to build three reactors at the site in Ynys Môn, Wales, using technology developed by Rolls-Royce. The project is backed by £2.5bn of UK government funding. Earlier this year, US engineering firm Amentum was selected to lead the delivery programme. It is being supported by a team including Turner & Townsend, Hochtief, Mace Consult and Unipart. Arup’s appointment brings together a group of specialist partners working on the early stages of the project. Landscape architects and master planners LDA Design are involved in shaping the wider site vision, while nuclear safety specialists TÜV SÜD Nuclear Technologies will provide safety expertise. Gleeds has been appointed to focus on cost engineering during the initial phases of site and infrastructure development. Simon Roddy, chief executive of GBE-N, said delivering a safe and integrated design for the UK’s first SMR would require close collaboration between engineering and technology partners. He said the project would rely on strong technical decision-making and innovation, adding that Arup and its partners would play a key role alongside GBE-N and Rolls-Royce SMR. Jeremy Stain, Arup’s nuclear business lead, said the project represented the first step towards a potential fleet of small modular reactors across the UK. He said the development aligned with national energy policy and the drive to reduce carbon emissions while strengthening energy security, with nuclear expected to remain a vital part of the future energy mix. Stain added that Arup was pleased to bring its multidisciplinary engineering expertise and local knowledge to the landmark project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Ofgem has approved an initial £28 billion package for Britain’s energy networks to reinforce safety, security and resilience, while upgrading and enlarging capacity to meet rising demand. The programme will modernise electricity and gas infrastructure and help shield consumers from volatile global energy prices. The largest share, £17.8 billion, is earmarked to operate, maintain and replace assets across Britain’s gas networks, keeping them among the safest and most resilient worldwide. A further £10.3 billion will go into electricity transmission to boost reliability and unlock extra capacity for electrification and economic growth. Across both gas and electricity, the overall investment is expected to reach around £90 billion by 2031. Acting now, Ofgem says, is the most cost-effective way to harness more domestic clean power, support growth and reduce exposure to gas price shocks like those in 2022. As day-to-day operations, asset replacement and maintenance costs flow through to bills faster than long-term expansion, these near-term outlays will contribute more quickly to customer bills even though they form a smaller portion of the total £90 billion programme. By 2031, network charges are projected to add £108 to typical dual-fuel household bills (£48 for gas and £60 for electricity). Factoring in the benefits of grid expansion, Ofgem estimates households would save about £80 compared with not building out the grid, leaving a net impact of roughly £30 overall, or under £3 per month. Electricity grid expansion alone is forecast to cut bills by £50 by 2031 by curbing reliance on imports and reducing constraint costs. Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem CEO, said: “The funding announced today will keep Britain’s energy network among the safest, most secure and resilient in the world. The investment will support the transition to new forms of energy and support new industrial customers to help drive economic growth and insulate us from volatile gas prices. “But this is not investment at any price. Every pound must deliver value for consumers. Ofgem will hold network companies accountable for delivering on time and on budget, and we make no apologies for the efficiency challenge we’re setting as the industry scales up investment. We’ve built strong consumer protections into these contracts, meaning funds will only be released when needed and clawed back if not used. Households and businesses must get value for money, and we will ensure they do.” Throughout 2025, the regulator scrutinised spending plans from electricity transmission owners, National Gas and gas distribution companies to secure the best deal for billpayers. Ofgem has set firm delivery milestones, demanded greater efficiency and rejected proposals not in consumers’ interests, delivering potential savings of over £4.5 billion (15%) versus initial £33 billion submissions. The final package will back 80 electricity transmission projects and related works over the next five years, adding new lines, substations and technologies to increase capacity and move clean, domestic power efficiently to homes and businesses, supporting growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales has been selected as the site for the UK’s first small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power station. The government has confirmed that publicly owned Great British Energy-Nuclear will develop three SMR units at Wylfa, with Rolls-Royce named as the preferred technology supplier, subject to final contract agreements. Great British Energy-Nuclear is expected to begin activity on site in 2026. While the initial development is for three reactors, the site has the potential capacity for up to eight SMR units in total. The ambition is for Wylfa’s small modular reactors to begin supplying electricity to the grid from the mid-2030s. The £2.5bn scheme is projected to support up to 3,000 skilled jobs at peak construction, providing a significant boost to the local economy. Prime minister Keir Starmer said that the project marks a turning point for both Anglesey and the UK’s nuclear sector, noting that the country had once been a global leader in nuclear power but had suffered from “years of neglect and inertia”. He added that the government is cutting red tape, reforming planning rules and backing growth to deliver the first SMR in North Wales. Simon Bowen, chair of Great British Energy-Nuclear, said the Wylfa project would establish the foundation for a fleet-based approach to nuclear development in the UK, enhancing energy security while driving long-term investment into the surrounding area. Chris Cholerton, chief executive of Rolls-Royce SMR, described Wylfa as the starting point for the company’s UK fleet programme. He said the scheme represents the first step in a 100-year commitment to clean energy, innovation and partnership with the local community. Cholerton added that the SMRs would be delivered using a high degree of modularisation and factory-built components, reducing disruption for local residents during construction. The decision has, however, disappointed the US government, which had hoped to see Westinghouse selected to deliver a larger-scale nuclear reactor at Wylfa. Warren Stephens, US ambassador to the UK, said the United States was “extremely disappointed” by the move, arguing that alternative options could provide clean, safe energy at the site more quickly and at lower cost. He suggested there remained “a different path” for large-scale nuclear projects and stressed that high energy costs could hinder the UK’s ability to act as a strong ally to the United States. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Osprey is expanding its heavy-lift fleet with the addition of the Liebherr LTM 1750-9.1, an 800-tonne all-terrain mobile crane arriving in November. This investment increases Osprey’s capability to deliver complex lifting operations for onshore wind, civil infrastructure, bridges, ports, and highways projects. To date, Osprey has contributed to projects delivering over 5,000 megawatts of clean energy, installing hundreds of onshore wind turbines and handling major offshore components. The company’s heavy-lift experience extends from turbine erection and maintenance to the testing and transport of next-generation nacelles and blades, reinforcing its role in the UK’s transition to low-carbon energy. Dean Graham, Heavy Lift Director at Osprey, explains: “The LTM 1750-9.1 adds real flexibility to our operations. It’s quick to set up, easy to move, and efficient to run. For clients, that means we can shorten programmes, reduce vehicle movements, and complete lifts in tighter spaces.” Efficient Set-Up and Mobility The LTM 1750-9.1 features a 52-metre telescopic boom, a maximum hoist height of 152 metres and a maximum working radius of 116 metres. Its self-rigging design allows it to be ready for work in approximately four to five hours, without the need for a separate rigging crane, depending on the selected configuration. With nine axles, the crane spreads its load over a larger footprint, reducing ground pressure and allowing access to areas where heavier crawler cranes or eight-axle models might struggle. “It rigs itself using its own boom and can move between pads while part-rigged,” says Graham. “That makes it well suited to turbine maintenance or construction work where space is limited.” The crane is supplied with the full complement of components, enabling multiple boom and luffing jib configurations as well as the Y guy system to brace the boom to increase lifting capacity to meet a wide range of heavy lift requirements. This flexibility allows Osprey to optimise the crane setup for each project, maximising lifting capacity, improving efficiency, and ensuring the right configuration is available for every site condition. Reduced Environmental Impact The crane is fitted with the latest Euro-compliant engines and is HVO-ready, allowing it to run on renewable fuels. Liebherr’s ECOdrive and ECOmode systems optimise fuel use and lower emissions, supporting Osprey’s goal to make heavy lifting operations cleaner and more efficient. Improving Onshore Wind Delivery The new crane is particularly relevant for onshore wind sites, where equipment needs to be both powerful and mobile. The ability to rig quickly and travel between turbines without full de-rigging can save several days per project, helping turbines generate power sooner and reducing local disruption. “It’s a practical addition to the fleet,” Graham adds. “As sites become more congested and access gets tighter, we need cranes that can do more with less time, less space, and lower ground loadings.” Osprey has a long history supporting the UK’s renewable energy sector, delivering logistics for offshore wind and tidal power projects both in the UK and internationally. Osprey has transported every major offshore wind farm component, including jackets, monopiles, nacelles, and blades using Osprey-owned cranes, self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), and barges. Civils Construction Sites With increasingly congested sites and tightly managed delivery schedules, the reduced rigging times of the LTM 1750-9.1 enable Osprey to meet demanding programme requirements and meet tight deadlines. Its ability to self-rig and work within confined areas makes it particularly well suited to urban civil engineering projects, where minimising disruption to the public and surrounding infrastructure is essential. This addition strengthens Osprey’s existing fleet of heavy mobile and crawler cranes, extending the company’s capability across complex bridge and infrastructure installations. Osprey’s heavy-lift teams are known for engaging early with clients to refine lift plans, reduce risk, and shorten build times. Osprey has applied the same engineering approach across a wide range of civil infrastructure projects, including the A45 Whitley South Bridge, M1 Kegworth Bypass and M4 Monkey Island Lane The company has also supported Network Rail on several bridge installations and replacements notably at Gipsy Patch Bridge, Penstone Bridge, Warrington Bridge, and Whaley Bridge, where precise heavy-lift coordination and minimal disruption were critical to project success. Complementary Services: Port Marshalling and Freight Forwarding The LTM 1750 complements Osprey’s existing offering of heavy mobile and heavy crawler crane fleet, including port marshalling and freight-forwarding operations. At the Port of Blyth, Osprey has delivered over 1,000 heavy lifts, supporting modular construction and offshore wind projects. Using cranes such as the Liebherr LG 1750 and Tadano CC3800, together with modular SPMTs, the company’s teams have managed complex manoeuvres and tight schedules across confined portside environments. These port operations form part of Osprey’s integrated approach to project delivery, combining heavy-lift engineering, transport planning, and marine logistics. This ensures clients benefit from safer, more efficient operations for large-scale renewable and infrastructure projects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals