The City of London Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission for Network Rail’s transformation of London Liverpool Street, which was last redeveloped in 1991 after passenger numbers tripled over the past 35 years. The scheme is designed to future‑proof the station for decades. Liverpool Street currently handles about 118 million passengers a year across London, East Anglia and the east of England. With annual users forecast to rise by 35% to 158 million by 2041, the approved plans aim to ensure the station can accommodate more than 200 million people in the longer term. Network Rail says the project will also support the Square Mile’s growth, with figures indicating the transformation could add up to £4.6bn a year to the City of London economy through increased visitor numbers – a contribution comparable in scale to a 1p change in the basic rate of income tax, referencing HM Revenue & Customs’ January 2025 “Direct effects of illustrative tax changes” bulletin. Key passenger improvements include: Heritage conservation is central to the design, with the Victorian trainshed remaining untouched. The plans will also open up new vantage points over the historic architecture, bringing passengers closer to the station’s original fabric. The infrastructure works are supported by a new office building above the concourse, incorporating a publicly accessible roof garden. Network Rail says the workspace will be among the capital’s best‑connected and most sustainably located, aligning with the City’s growth ambitions. Ellie Burrows, Managing Director for Network Rail’s Eastern region, said: “This decision represents a key step towards the transformation of Britain’s busiest station and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Liverpool Street. “Our plans focus on improving the everyday experience for passengers whilst respecting the station’s unique heritage. With annual passenger numbers forecast to grow to 158 million, this approval ensures the station will be future proofed for decades to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Plans for a major overhaul of Liverpool Street Station have been approved by the City of London Corporation, paving the way for a comprehensive redevelopment of Britain’s busiest railway station. The scheme will create a modern, fully accessible transport hub designed to meet growing passenger demand, while introducing new commercial, cultural and public spaces within and around the station. The project aims to futureproof the gateway to the Square Mile, ensuring it remains fit for purpose in an increasingly competitive global city landscape. Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, described the approval as a significant milestone for the City. He said the redevelopment would strengthen the Square Mile’s business ecosystem through upgraded infrastructure, generate employment opportunities and reinforce London’s standing as a world-leading destination. Hayward added that the plans would ensure residents, workers and visitors benefit from a more inclusive, efficient and forward-looking transport interchange, capable of supporting the City’s continued growth. Tom Sleigh, Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee, said the scheme represents a substantial upgrade to a station that handles millions of passengers each year. He highlighted the architectural ambition of the design, including the reimagining of the station’s distinctive brick arches, which will help redefine Liverpool Street as a contemporary transport landmark. The redevelopment is expected to enhance passenger experience through improved accessibility, circulation and amenities, while also delivering high-quality new spaces that contribute to the wider urban environment. With approval now secured, the project marks a decisive step towards modernising one of the capital’s most important transport gateways and reinforcing its role at the heart of London’s commercial core. The approved scheme is set to transform Liverpool Street into a future-ready hub that blends heritage, connectivity and commercial opportunity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

c.£100m five-year project will provide critical access to Agratas gigafactory in Somerset. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been appointed to design and build a new junction on the M5 motorway. Awarded through the Regional Delivery Partnership (RDP) framework, the contract is worth approximately £100m to Costain over a five-year period. Junction 22A is a new motorway junction being constructed between Burnham-On-Sea and Bridgwater, in Somerset. It will provide access to the Gravity Smart Campus and £4bn gigafactory being developed by Agratas, which will be Britain’s biggest electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility. The junction will consist of north facing slip roads and will alleviate congestion on the motorway south of the Huntspill river. Costain’s role as the project’s delivery integration partner and main works contractor will see it design and construct the new junction before handing it over to National Highways upon completion. In its role, Costain will provide a range of best-in-class infrastructure services, including design, engineering, programme delivery and supply chain management. WSP will support Costain as design partner. Alex Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer of Costain, commented: “This award is built on our long-established highways delivery expertise and trusted partner relationship with National Highways. We will work closely with our supply chain partners to design and deliver this new junction that will provide access to the new gigafactory and help to drive economic growth in this region of the UK. “This investment, supporting the UK’s growth ambitions, is another example of Costain’s commitment to deliver critical national infrastructure programmes that improve people’s lives.” Costain is a long-term partner to National Highways and last year completed the construction of 41 emergency areas on the M1 ahead of schedule. Costain is also providing specialist technical engineering advice to National Highways under its Specialist Professional and Technical Services Framework (SPaTS3), which will cover the whole of the period for Roads Investment Strategy 3 (2026-2031). The infrastructure solutions company is also National Highways’ delivery partner for the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island Interchange scheme. In addition, Costain was recently added to join the Eastern Highways Alliance’s EH4 Framework, covering a range of civil engineering and construction works across the East of England. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Gloucestershire County Council has secured an additional £71.5 million from the UK Government to deliver the transformative M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme. The funding will enable the council to press ahead with key transport upgrades designed to unlock homes, jobs and investment across the county. On completion, the scheme is expected to support the delivery of more than 20,000 new homes — including over 7,000 that are affordable — underpin the Golden Valley development and the National Cyber Innovation Centre and technology cluster with around 12,000 skilled jobs, and build on the successful delivery of the £33 million Arle Court Transport Hub. Development consent for the project was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport in June 2025, marking a major milestone and confirming its strategic importance for Gloucestershire’s transport network and economy. Cllr Julian Tooke, Cabinet Member for Business, Economic Development, Planning and Infrastructure, said: “Securing this additional Government funding is a turning point for Gloucestershire. The delivery of the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme is a catalyst for transformational growth and opportunity in the region, driving future investment and prosperity. I’m grateful to Homes England and our partners for their support and confidence in this essential infrastructure.” The newly confirmed £71.5m is from the UK Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, administered by Homes England, and will close the remaining funding gap to deliver the full set of improvements. Funding already secured includes contributions from the Housing Infrastructure Fund, district council Community Infrastructure Levy receipts, Gloucestershire County Council, and Section 106 developer contributions from sites that will directly benefit from the scheme. Gloucestershire County Council is leading delivery of the scheme in collaboration with National Highways and other partners. Weather-dependent preparatory works began in autumn 2025 to avoid rising costs and keep the project on track, with appointed contractor Galliford Try undertaking early site activities. With the extra funding now in place, the council and partners will finalise delivery arrangements and continue preparation ahead of the main construction phase starting in autumn 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction has been completed on HS2’s longest tunnel, marking a significant milestone for one of the UK’s most complex civil engineering projects. Civil engineering works have now concluded on the 10-mile twin-bore Chiltern tunnels, following the completion of the final vent shafts at Chesham Road and Little Missenden. The achievement brings to a close nearly five years of intensive construction activity through the Chiltern Hills and clears the way for the next phase of fit-out works. With the structural works finished, the tunnels are now ready to be equipped with track, overhead power systems and mechanical and electrical installations. Enabling works for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are expected to begin later this year, with rail systems to follow once that stage is complete. Main construction of the tunnels was carried out by Align JV, a joint venture between Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and Volker Fitzpatrick. Works began in May 2021 with the staggered launch of two 2,000-tonne tunnel boring machines from a site near the M25 at Maple Cross in Hertfordshire. Ahead of tunnelling, five deep ventilation and access shafts were constructed along the route, reaching depths of up to 78 metres. Each shaft headhouse was designed by Grimshaw Architects to sit sensitively within the Chilterns landscape. The tunnel boring machines advanced north at an average rate of 16 metres per day before completing their drives near Great Missenden in early 2024. Since then, teams have focused on constructing the porous tunnel extensions at the north and south portals, installing internal walkways and completing 40 cross passages linking the twin bores. HS2 Ltd’s head of civil engineering for the Chiltern tunnel, Mark Clapp, described the project as a rare opportunity for engineers to work on a scheme of such scale and complexity. He praised the collaboration between HS2 Ltd, Align JV and its supply chain, highlighting the quality and commitment shown throughout delivery. Align JV project director Adrien Baudard said completing the civil works was a point of pride for the entire team, noting advances in safety, sustainability and technical performance achieved during the programme. He added that the project’s approach to carbon reduction, safety innovation and skills development would influence tunnelling best practice for years to come. The Chiltern tunnel is the second of HS2’s five twin-bore tunnels to reach structural completion, following the one-mile Long Itchington Wood tunnel in Warwickshire, completed last year. Despite progress on individual elements, the wider HS2 programme remains behind schedule and over budget. HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild continues to work on a reset plan aimed at delivering the remaining London to Birmingham route more efficiently and at the lowest reasonable cost. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The construction of one of the most complicated parts of the HS2 project took a step forward over the Christmas break, as Balfour Beatty VINCI completed two key viaduct spans over the existing railway near Water Orton in Warwickshire. The spans form a small part of the Delta junction – a huge triangular intersection being built to the east of Birmingham for the new high-speed railway. Like the nearby Spaghetti Junction, it is formed of a complex series of interconnected viaducts, taking the high-speed line over motorways, local roads, existing railways, rivers and floodplains. It is designed to carry HS2 services to and from Birmingham, as well as connecting to the mainline heading north and south. To maintain speeds of 360km/h on the mainline and around 200km/h on the approaches to Birmingham, the junction is stretched out over a far larger area than a motorway junction, with 2.6 miles of track, including underpasses, flyovers and five major viaducts. The Water Orton viaducts are at the northern end of the junction and will allow southbound trains to join the spur into Birmingham Curzon Street and the rolling stock depot at Washwood Heath. Engineers working for Balfour Beatty VINCI used a five-day closure over the quieter Christmas period to safely complete the two parallel spans over the existing Birmingham to Peterborough railway line.  With the railway crossing complete, the team can move on to the next sections of the viaducts over the nearby A446 road and the M42 motorway next year. Stephane Ciccolini, Senior Works Manager at Balfour Beatty VINCI, said: “This complex section of the HS2 route has taken a major step forward, after Balfour Beatty VINCI teams successfully erected two viaducts spans over an existing railway near Water Orton. “We’ve worked around the clock during the Christmas period to deliver this incredible feat of engineering, using a specialist cantilever technique not seen in the UK before this project. This approach involves using a 22-metre-high mast and a 14-metre-high swivel crane to move each individual segment into place until the span is complete.” Sam Hinkley, HS2 Ltd’s Senior Project Manager said: “It’s great to see the Water Orton viaducts in place across the railway and I’d like to thank everyone who gave up their Christmas to help us reach this important milestone and I’d like to thank passengers for their patience. “These precast segmental viaducts form a key part of the Delta junction – one of the most complex parts of the HS2 project and I look forward to seeing more progress in the year ahead.” Once complete, the two single-track Water Orton viaducts will stretch for around 1.4km across two railways, a river, local roads and the M42. The viaducts are made of pre-cast concrete segments that are installed using a huge cantilever process. Once each span is in place, the permanent post-tensioned cables are installed in the hollow centre of the viaduct allowing the temporary cables stays to be moved forward to support the assembly of the next span. The same process is repeated between each pier until all the spans are complete. The 32 concrete piers that support the Water Orton viaducts are up to 20m tall and cast in situ using bespoke formwork and reinforcing cages manufactured at nearby Coleshill. The Water Orton viaducts form part of 3.7 miles worth of viaduct across Delta junction which are being built using this approach. All 2,742 concrete segments needed for the viaducts are being manufactured at a temporary factory at nearby Lea Marston. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Motorists, rail passengers and residents impacted by the £60m renewal of a major West Coast Main Line railway bridge are being thanked after disruptive demolition work was successfully completed this weekend. The huge project near Penrith in Cumbria involves a 130-metre-long bridge being removed and a new one installed over the first two weekends of 2026. Network Rail and its principal contractor Skanska achieved the first phase removing Clifton Bridge in the early hours of this morning (Monday 5 January). It required a full motorway closure of the M6 between junctions 39 and 40 from 8pm on Friday 2 until 5am on Monday 5 January. A fleet of some of the country’s largest excavators were used to chip away at the 1960s-built concrete structure which spanned over six lanes of the highway for nearly 60 years. After looming over the motorway for decades, hundreds of people came to see the structure turned to rubble in just hours over the course of the weekend. Timelapse footage has now been released marking this major milestone in the project as the motorway reopened at 3.50am – 70 minutes earlier than scheduled. For the next week thousands of motorists will travel underneath a large gap in the West Coast Main Line where the bridge once crossed. That’s before a modern 4,200-tonne steel and concrete structure is moved into place during a further 57-hour motorway closure this coming weekend (8.00pm Friday 9 until 5.00am Monday 12 January). With the West Coast Main Line currently split in two, rail passengers are encouraged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to plan their journey in advance* until Wednesday 15 January when the whole project is due to finish and trains will run again once the railway is reinstated. Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West and Central region Capital Delivery director, said: “The demolition of Clifton bridge has been a mammoth task and I’d like to thank drivers who’ve had to use the road diversions, rail users whose journeys have changed and people local to the construction site who’ve been extremely patient with all the noise and disruption. “This £60m project forms part of our major investment programme to improve journeys on the West Coast Main Line for passengers and freight for generations to come.” Rosario Barcena, Skanska UK rail programme director, said: “It’s been an incredible effort by the entire team to complete the demolition of the former Clifton Bridge, working 24/7 across the weekend to make sure that the M6 motorway could re-open on Monday morning. “Technically it was a complex operation which we managed with great precision and care. The works were completed safely, with the support structures that the new 4,200 tonne bridge will sit on successfully retained.  “It’s been a super-collaborative approach with Network Rail, National Highways and our supply chain team. I’d also like to extend my thanks to people travelling in the region and the local community for their understanding while we undertake these essential works.” This ongoing project is just one of a swathe of journey improving upgrades between London and Cumbria over the festive season. The Christmas and New Year work has seen a combined investment of nearly £200m along the West Coast Main Line, which forms part of a much larger £400m investment over the next four years. Also today (Monday 5 January) a major railway junction between Northampton and Milton Keynes reopened after a £26m track renewal which began on Christmas Eve. Preston station also reopened after a 100-hour full closure for signals and the structures which support them to be upgraded. For further updates on all our our West Coast Main Line improvement work you can follow us on X @NetworkRailWCML. To plan rail journeys in advance please us www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest travel information. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Engineers working for the HS2 project claimed a UK-first over the weekend when they successfully slid an enormous 4,600-tonne viaduct across the M6 without closing the motorway – significantly reducing disruption to drivers. The 17 hour-long operation was the culmination of an epic three-stage process to assemble and install the 315-metre East deck of the M6 South viaduct, which will carry high-speed trains heading to Birmingham and further north. While the previous slide had required a weekend closure of the main carriageway, the team – led by HS2’s main work contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) – worked closely with National Highways to develop the ‘fully restrained’ process which allowed them to safely slide the final section above the moving traffic. It is thought to be the first time this technique has been used on a UK motorway. To deliver this, they initially closed the M6 overnight between Junctions 4 and 5 on Thursday 11 December to shift the viaduct slightly forward by twelve metres. This was to ensure that both ends of the enormous beam were fully supported on concrete piers during this weekend’s slide. The viaduct was then pushed the rest of the way across the busy motorway on Saturday at a speed of 13 metres per hour, with only the M42 slip closed during the weekend. The successful operation means the project to construct the M6 South viaduct has reached the halfway point. Over the next year, the same process will be repeated, with a parallel West deck slid into position alongside the first one to carry trains heading south. Caroline Warrington, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Delivery, said: “Along the HS2 route we are pioneering new approaches to engineering and construction in order to deliver more efficiently and with less impact on our neighbours. “We believe this fully restrained slide was a first for the country, but most importantly it means we’ve been able to cut in half the number of times we’ve had to close the motorway. I’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make the operation a success.” Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd’s Chief Executive, is currently leading a comprehensive reset of the programme – making sure the new railway is built as efficiently as possible and for the lowest reasonable cost. Over the last year, HS2 has focused on safely boosting levels of productivity across the construction programme. The M6 South viaduct has been designed in stages to increase efficiency and reduce disruption for motorists. Each section is assembled to one side before being pushed out over the motorway, with the next section added behind it. In the latest phase, the team moved the viaduct using a series of winches, known as strand jacks. To reduce friction, the structure was slid across non-stick pads, using a material usually found on the surface of a household frying pan. Russell Luckhurst, the BBV engineer leading the delivery of the works, said: “We’re all feeling a huge sense of pride after sliding a 4,600-tonne viaduct into its final position this weekend. The third and final slide of the East deck viaduct was delivered over a live motorway for the first time in the UK, making this achievement even more special. “Using this ‘fully restrained’ technique meant we were able to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. Our focus will now turn towards the neighbouring West deck viaduct, which will be launched in multiple phases throughout 2026, as well as the East deck finishing works.” Each viaduct is formed of a hollow double-box structure made of weathering steel. The steel boasts a natural protective layer of oxidisation which gives it a characteristic ‘rusty’ appearance and reduces maintenance by eliminating the need for regular repainting. Four pairs of concrete piers support the viaducts with the tallest one measuring 9.9m in height. A 4.5-metre-high parapet will be installed on the side facing Chelmsley Wood to reduce noise and disturbance from passing trains. The viaduct was launched with 82 precast slabs already installed on top of the steel structure. This will further reduce the number of road closures in the future, to complete the viaduct deck works. The structural design has been carried out by Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Design Joint Venture (DJV), made up of Mott MacDonald and SYSTRA, plus WW+P Architects. National Highways Regional Director for the Midlands, Victoria Lazenby, said: “Our key focus is the impact that these major construction works have on our roads – we must both ensure the safety of road users and minimise the disruption they face. “So we are delighted that this innovative technique has meant that not only was this enormous structure slid into place without having to close the motorway during the day but also that the total number of closures needed has also been halved.“We will continue to work with HS2 and their partners to ensure the smooth running of our roads while this huge infrastructure project takes place and support any initiatives which will reduce disruption for drivers and local communities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The government has thrown its weight behind Heathrow Airport Limited’s proposal for a third runway, paving the way for a £33 billion expansion to create a new “superhub” at the UK’s largest airport. The preferred scheme, put forward by Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), includes around £21 billion for the construction of a new north west runway and a further £12 billion for associated terminal and airfield infrastructure. In addition to the expansion plans, HAL has committed to investing a separate £15 billion in modernising and upgrading existing airport facilities. This refurbishment programme is independent of the third runway and is expected to go ahead regardless of the outcome of the planning process for expansion. The decision ends the chances of a rival proposal led by billionaire hotel entrepreneur Surinder Arora, whose alternative vision for Heathrow’s future has been under consideration alongside HAL’s plans. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the government’s choice on Tuesday morning, following what she described as a detailed comparison of the remaining options for growth at Heathrow. “Following a comparative assessment of the remaining proposals for Heathrow expansion, the government’s view is that the north west runway scheme brought forward by Heathrow Airport Limited offers the most credible and deliverable option,” she said. “Today is another important step to enable a third runway and build on these benefits, setting the direction for the remainder of our work to get the policy framework in place for airport expansion. This will allow a decision on a third runway plan this parliament which meets our key tests including on the environment and economic growth.” Heathrow Airport Limited will now prepare and submit an application for development consent for the north west runway, triggering a formal planning and examination process. In a statement, HAL welcomed the government’s backing. “We welcome the Government’s support for our scheme to build a third runway at Heathrow – the UK’s gateway to growth. Expanding Heathrow will mean more connectivity, increased trade, improved passenger experience and a huge economic boost for the British businesses that will help design and build it. “However, we still need further clarity as to how the crucial next phase of the project will be regulated. We need definitive decisions from the CAA and Government by mid December so that delay to the project can be avoided and we can get on with delivering this vital project for our customers and for the UK.” The chosen scheme will require significant alterations to surrounding infrastructure, including major works to the M25 estimated at around £1.25 billion. These works are expected to involve realignment and tunnelling to accommodate the new runway while maintaining one of the country’s busiest motorways. With the government now formally backing HAL’s plan, attention will turn to the detailed planning process, environmental assessments and regulatory decisions that will determine how and when the third runway can move from policy to construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The team behind East West Rail has revealed a significant rethink of the Oxford–Cambridge route, with a much larger and more ambitious station-building programme now at the heart of the £7bn scheme. More than 80 design changes have been added as the project moves towards its Development Consent Order, reshaping the service pattern, expanding station provision and introducing new access points across the line. The most dramatic shift affects the Marston Vale Line, where nine ageing stations are set to be replaced by four larger, modern facilities. One of these is a completely new station at Stewartby, positioned to support the proposed Universal Studios theme park. The other three consolidated stations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont and Lidlington will take the place of nine existing low-use stops, forming a more streamlined and efficient set of interchanges. Key new and updated stations include:• Cambridge East – a new station near Cambridge Airport, now within the project scope and dependent on third-party funding.• Cambourne (EWR) – unchanged in location but now one of five stations serving the wider Cambridge area.• Stewartby (new) – serving Universal Studios’ proposed visitor resort.• Three new consolidated Marston Vale Line stations – replacing nine smaller stops.• Tempsford (new) – with an added southern entrance to support government-backed new town plans, and a fast-tracked East Coast Main Line phase.• Cambridge station – a new eastern entrance with an active travel hub and enhanced walking and cycling connections.• Bletchley station – a proposed eastern entrance improving town-centre and bus interchange access, subject to external funding. Cambridge sees the most substantial expansion, with the new Cambridge East station easing mounting pressure on the city’s busy main station and opening up new growth opportunities. The long-planned eastern entrance at Cambridge station also forms part of the redesign. Bletchley is in line for its own eastern entrance, improving integration with the town centre. In Oxford, adjustments have been made to support the reinstatement of the Cowley Branch Line, which will unlock capacity at Oxford station and allow East West Rail to operate its full timetable. Further east, the planned southern entrance at Tempsford will link directly with the government’s new town proposals, while ministers have instructed East West Rail Company and Network Rail to accelerate the East Coast Main Line phase in response to future development pressures. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the project represents far more than a new railway, describing it as a catalyst for growth, jobs and long-term regional opportunity. She added that modern infrastructure investment would help create a greener and more reliable network for millions of passengers. A further round of consultation is expected in the New Year, ahead of a full DCO submission planned for late spring or early summer. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals