Montel Civil Engineering starts work to deliver access and services for CGX Connect Ground break is catalyst for unlocking the potential of strategic economic development at airport Works supported by £1.885 million Growth Deal funding through GFirst LEP A flagship new Gloucestershire development with the potential to deliver more
Virtual 360 degree exhibition launched ahead of COP26 to profile measures HS2 is taking to cut carbon: https://360.hs2.org.uk/interchange Online tour with 30 interactive features, five new videos on HS2’s environmental innovations and 25 images of Interchange Station People can sign up for three HS2 webinars during COP26: https://www.hs2.org.uk/cop26/ In the
M9 interchange provides access to Winchburgh development Approval unlocks delivery of 20-year masterplan Winchburgh is one of UK’s biggest place-making projects A new junction for the M9 has been given the green light, paving the way for new access to the major development at Winchburgh in West Lothian. The development
HS2 was this week celebrating a literal milestone as ‘Florence’ – the first of ten Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) on Phase One completed her first mile of tunnel for the UK’s new high speed railway The latest photos of work on the Chiltern tunnel are available here: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/tbms-and-tunnels-massive-machines-and-their-current-progress/chiltern-tunnel-construction A new
Following Highways England’s rebrand to National Highways and its recent announcement to change its current contract mechanisms, Winvic Construction Ltd has been awarded two Lot contracts across four regions within the new Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF). Winvic is one of 50 contractors to deliver £3.6 billion of road renewal works
HS2 has recently revealed the colossal logistics operation that is taking place at HS2’s logistics hub near Willesden Junction. The 30-acre site will be the beating heart of the logistics operation for HS2 in London, and will be where earth from the 26 miles of tunnel will be processed and
Project will increase the capacity of London Gateway logistics hub A Dubai-based logistics company has announced that it will begin work next month on a new fourth berth at its London Gateway logistics hub. The £300m scheme, which is designed to increase supply chain resilience and create more capacity for
Innovation initiative targets diversity-focussed companies in latest recruiting round to help drive development of UK SMEs Of the Innovation Accelerator’s third cohort, two of the five SMEs have female CEOs or founders, and three have BAME CEOs or founders HS2 Ltd has launched a new phase in the development of
Leading wet civil engineers Land & Water has completed dredging works on behalf of the Isle of Man Government as part of a wider three-year project which has removed over 22,000m3 of silt from Peel Marina. This has helped to significantly improve the water depths, improving the marina’s access and
Children from Howard Community Academy in Bury St. Edmunds have come up with the names of the roads on a new housing development, Lyle Place. As part of the Keepmoat Homes’ ongoing commitment to the local community, pupils from the school were invited to suggest street names for the new
Montel Civil Engineering starts work to deliver access and services for CGX Connect Ground break is catalyst for unlocking the potential of strategic economic development at airport Works supported by £1.885 million Growth Deal funding through GFirst LEP A flagship new Gloucestershire development with the potential to deliver more than 1,500 new jobs has broken ground and is already reporting ‘strong interest’ as the region’s economy continues to bounce back. CGX Connect is a new commercial development located on land within the northern perimeter of Gloucestershire Airport between the existing Anson and Meteor business parks. When completed it will provide around 30,000 sqm of flexible floor space in a prime location for businesses operating in the logistics and industrial sectors. Westcountry-based Montel Civil Engineering will create an entrance into the development, divert and protect existing and new services, and widen access to the B4063 to allow a dedicated right turn for those coming from the west. To do this, it will clear the site, create suitable drainage using existing sewers, construct new carriageway with two pedestrian refuges, and install streetlights, signage and road markings. Work is expected to take 20 weeks in total, with completion scheduled for Spring 2022. Montel was selected as the contractor for the work by Gloucester-based project manager Vitruvius. GFirst LEP is providing £1.885 million in Growth Deal funding to support this infrastructure work needed to deliver the new development. Karen Taylor, Managing Director Gloucestershire Airport, said: “With such a good location close to the road network and with the airport on its doorstep, we’re already seeing interest in CGX Connect from businesses across Gloucestershire, the West Country and further afield. “It will play a key part in our sustainable business growth in the decade ahead, so we’re excited to now be at a point when we can start to unlock CGX Connect’s potential.” Mark Price, Managing Director, Vitruvius Management Services, said: “It’s hugely satisfying to see work getting underway, having partnered with Gloucestershire Airport on CGX Connect as part of its ambitious ten-year plan. As project managers, we’ll continue to keep things on time and to budget, to create quality flexible space for growing commercial and industrial businesses.” David Owen, Chief Executive, GFirst LEP, said: “We’re proud to deliver Growth Deal funding for such an ambitious transformational project in the county, delivering up to 1,500 quality jobs. It’s fantastic to help break ground on a such a key development for Gloucestershire.” Simon Turbutt, Managing Director, Montel Civil Engineering, said: “We’ve a proven expertise and an excellent track record working as principal contractor on traditional schemes as well as larger design and construction projects. So the team’s delighted to have been selected to deliver such a high-profile project.” A construction plan has been carefully developed to avoid impacting the operations of existing nearby businesses. In addition to writing directly to residents and businesses to keep them informed on the progress of the works, Montel has put in place a dedicated 24-hour helpline 07795 415752 for any queries as the work progresses. A project specific webpage will also be regularly updated with details of the works progress – including advance notice of any temporary traffic management systems that might be put in place. The project webpage can be found at: www.montelcivilengineering.co.uk/project/cgx-business-park-infrastructure-works/ For information about the CGX Connect and Gloucestershire Airport, contact the Gloucestershire Airport team direct by emailing CommunityRelations@gloucestershireairport.co.uk orcalling 0800 062 2985.
Virtual 360 degree exhibition launched ahead of COP26 to profile measures HS2 is taking to cut carbon: https://360.hs2.org.uk/interchange Online tour with 30 interactive features, five new videos on HS2’s environmental innovations and 25 images of Interchange Station People can sign up for three HS2 webinars during COP26: https://www.hs2.org.uk/cop26/ In the run-up to COP26, HS2 Ltd has launched a virtual tour of its eco-friendly Interchange Station to profile how the new high speed railway will help the UK tackle climate change. The 360 degree online tour hosts a virtual exhibition pavilion showcasing how HS2 is reducing carbon by using new technology to build one of the most sustainable railways of its kind in the world. People can step through the entrance of the station, walk through the concourse and ticket check-in area and onto the station platform, viewing videos and virtual exhibition areas on the way. Each area of the virtual station focuses on different environmental credentials of the project, including how HS2 will help to decarbonise the transport sector by providing a low carbon alternative for long distance travel, reducing the need for car and domestic plane journeys. It provides insights about how the project is using clean construction techniques, improving air quality, designing sustainable stations and creating a green corridor of connected habitats for wildlife and green spaces for people to enjoy along the route. The exhibits include videos which explain how innovation is playing a major role in the construction of the railway and how HS2 is working with its supply chain, industry and academic partners to reduce emissions through new low carbon technologies. Progress on creating new connected habitats for wildlife is brought to life with footage of new areas of tree planting, with insights from HS2’s environmental experts. Interchange Station in Solihull was chosen to host the exhibition because of its BREEAM Outstanding award, putting it in the top 1% of buildings in the UK for sustainability. The exhibition also features pop-up information and videos about the station’s sustainable design. HS2’s Director of Environment Peter Miller said: “This interactive exhibition provides a fantastic virtual tour through HS2’s many environmental innovations, as a showcase for the project during the UN Climate Change Conference – COP26. It clearly demonstrates how HS2 is playing an important role in delivering the Government’s commitment to bring all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK to net zero by 2050.” The exhibition has a custom interface developed by 3 Deep Media. It’s made up of seven panoramic 360-degree renders from a 3D model of the railway produced by HS2’s digital engineering and Building Information Management (BIM) teams, with 30 pop-up interactive features, 25 pictures of the new Interchange Station design and five new videos on how HS2 is tackling climate change. Visitors to the online exhibition can also register for HS2’s COP26 webinar series during the UN summit, covering cleaner construction, sustainable stations and building a railway resilient to climate change. These are open to anyone to attend, and recordings of the webinars featuring HS2 experts and external partners will be also available to view in the virtual exhibition afterwards. The webinars are: 4 Nov – Clean construction webinar: How HS2 is innovating to decarbonise construction and leave a legacy for the future of the industry. 9 Nov – Resilient, reliable railway webinar: How the adaptation and resilience measures on HS2 will minimise delays and make sure the project is ready for a changing climate. 11 Nov – Sustainable stations webinar: Why HS2’s stations are environmentally world class and how they will become hubs for other forms of sustainable travel.
M9 interchange provides access to Winchburgh development Approval unlocks delivery of 20-year masterplan Winchburgh is one of UK’s biggest place-making projects A new junction for the M9 has been given the green light, paving the way for new access to the major development at Winchburgh in West Lothian. The development has already delivered over 650 new homes, shops and business space, extensive parks and recreation space and a canal-side marina. Three new state-of-the art schools are also well advanced in a large school campus next to extensive parkland. The new junction will unlock the final delivery of the Winchburgh masterplan which, when complete, will see at least 3,800 new homes, improved transport links, and a minimum of 40-acres of employment land created. Now the government is processing the ‘Made Road Orders’ which is the final administrative step in allowing the motorway junction work to proceed. It marks a major milestone in the evolution of Winchburgh, with work to develop the historic mining village first taking off in 2012. The news comes as Winchburgh also announced a sixth homebuilder has begun work on site. Taylor Wimpey has joined Bellway, CALA, Barratt, Robertson and J Smart & Co to deliver a wide range of quality new homes. From one-bedroom canal-side apartments to six-bedroom family houses, the new properties in Winchburgh have already seen exceptional demand, appealing to a variety of different homebuyers. Construction on the M9 is expected to begin in February 2022 with the junction due to open at the end of 2022. The junction will be formed by constructing four new slip roads centred around the existing underpass below the motorway. Served by a fully upgraded core road, it will connect the town centre with the southern roundabout at the new M9 junction. John Hamilton, Chief Executive, Winchburgh Developments Ltd commented: “The new junction has been a core element of the Winchburgh masterplan since its inception. Historically, transport connectivity has been heavily constrained by a motorway network that completely bypassed the village. This development will be transformational in improving journey times to and from Edinburgh and the Lothians for residents, businesses and visitors.” As part of the planning conditions, no more than 1,000 residential units could be occupied in Winchburgh until the new M9 junction was complete. Now that the junction has been given the go-ahead, the final phases of the masterplan can progress. Kirsty McGill, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland said: “With the new M9 junction, the properties built in Winchburgh will be extremely well connected across the central belt. The demand we have already seen for new homes in Winchburgh is only expected to rise now that the junction has been approved.” Winchburgh residents, Keith and Andrea Fraser said: “In moving south from Aberdeenshire, we visited many housing developments across the Lothians in our search for a new home. We wanted to move to a growing community and the vision for the growth of Winchburgh really appealed to us, especially the range of community services and public spaces such as the marina and Auldcathie park which we look forward to exercising in and enjoying with family and friends. Although, we no longer have to face a daily commute, for those who do the new M9 junction will really improve Scottish transport links, and access to and from the village.” Spanning 352 hectares, Winchburgh is one of the largest and most exciting placemaking projects currently underway in the UK delivering new homes, improved transport links, employment opportunities, state-of-the-art schools and stunning new outdoor spaces to the historic village. Any enquires should be directed to John Hamilton, CEO, Winchburgh Developments Ltd on 07534 500238 or john@winchburghdevelopments.com.
HS2 was this week celebrating a literal milestone as ‘Florence’ – the first of ten Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) on Phase One completed her first mile of tunnel for the UK’s new high speed railway The latest photos of work on the Chiltern tunnel are available here: https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/resources/f/tbms-and-tunnels-massive-machines-and-their-current-progress/chiltern-tunnel-construction A new video flythrough of the first mile can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZqmuTGVGZA The first enormous 2,000 tonne tunnelling machine passed the one mile mark this week during the construction of the first tunnels for HS2 – Britain’s new high speed rail link between London, Birmingham and the north. Launched in May, the 170m long Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) covered the first mile cutting through a mix of chalk and flint beneath the Chiltern hills just outside London. Named ‘Florence’ by local school children, the TBM is one of two identical machines excavating the twin ten-mile-long tunnels. A second machine, named ‘Cecilia’ is a short way behind, with both TBMs expected to break out in around three years’ time. Designed specifically for the geology of the Chilterns, each machine is a self-contained underground factory, digging the tunnel, lining it with concrete wall segments and grouting them into place as it moves forward. Welcoming the progress, HS2 Ltd Project Client Rohan Perin said: “The 10 mile Chiltern tunnel will take HS2 underneath the hills and safeguard the woodlands and wildlife habits above ground as well as significantly reducing disruption to communities during construction and operation of the new railway. “Once complete, HS2 will offer low carbon journey options linking London with the major cities of the north and releasing capacity for more freight and local trains on our existing mainlines. It’s great to see how much progress has been made over the summer and I’d like to thank the crew of Florence and all the tunnelling team for their hard work.” The first two TBMs are operated by HS2’s main works contractor, Align – a joint venture formed of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick. A crew of 17 people keep the machines running, working in shifts and supported by over 100 people on the surface, managing the logistics and maintaining the smooth progress of the tunnelling operation. Align Project Director Daniel Altier added: “I am delighted with the progress that Florence has made since its launch in May, with Cecilia not far behind. All the spoil from the TBMs is converted into slurry before being pumped back to our South Portal site, just inside the M25, where it is processed and used for landscaping on site. This is, and will continue to be, a huge logistical challenge, as Florence and Cecilia continue their journey through the Chilterns. “Florence reaching the 1 mile point is a great achievement, however we still have a long way to go.” Each of the separate northbound and southbound tunnels will require 56,000 precision engineered, fibre-reinforced concrete wall segments – which are all being made at the south portal of the tunnel, next to the M25. During her first mile, Florence and her crew have installed more than 5,500 separate segments, each weighing around 8.5 tonnes. Approximately 2.7 million cubic metres of material will be excavated during the construction of the tunnels and used for landscaping around the south portal site. Once construction is complete, this will help create around 90 hectares of wildlife-rich chalk grassland habitats. Chalk grassland used to be widespread across the hills of south east England and are considered habitat of international conservation significance with just 700ha left across the Chilterns. In total there will be ten TBMs on the HS2 project – working to create 64 miles of tunnel between London and the West Midlands including major tunnels on the approach to London and Birmingham. More than 20,000 jobs and over 650 apprenticeships are already being supported by HS2, which is set to transform transport links between Britain’s major cities, free up space on the rail network for more freight and local services and support the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions. The TBM is named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who spent many years in Claydon, Buckinghamshire where she wrote books on nursing, with the name suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon. A new video flythrough of the first mile can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZqmuTGVGZA An animation explaining the Chiltern tunnels can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTsLL9BPHpc TBM names: Florence – named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who spent many years in Claydon, Buckinghamshire where she wrote numerous books on nursing. Suggested by students at Meadow High School in Hillingdon. Cecilia – named after Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, the Astronomer and Astrophysicist born in Buckinghamshire who attended Cambridge University before becoming Chair of Astronomy at Harvard University in the United States. She was the first person to properly ‘read’ a temperature on stars. She also discovered that stars are made mainly from hydrogen and helium. Suggested by students at The Chalfonts Community College in Buckinghamshire. Around 4,500 people from across the UK then took part in the poll to select the final names, with Florence taking 40% of the vote and Cecilia a close second with 32%. Facts and figures – The Chiltern tunnel TBMs The TBMs are 170m in length – nearly 1.5 times the length of a football pitch Each one weighs roughly 2000 tonnes – the equivalent of 340 African bush elephants They were transported to the UK in 330 separate shipments containing a total of more than a thousand separate parts. They will run almost non-stop 24 hours a day for 3.5 years Once complete, trains will pass through the tunnel in around 3 minutes at speeds of up to 320km/h The tunnels will go as deep as 80m below the ground – ensuring communities and countryside above are not impacted by the railway The size of the TBM cutterhead which will bore the tunnels is 10.26m, roughly the height of two giraffes standing on top of one another Taking into account the thickness of the tunnel walls, the internal diameter of the tunnels in which the trains will pass through will be 9.1m, slightly larger than two London buses stacked on top of one another The tunnels will
Following Highways England’s rebrand to National Highways and its recent announcement to change its current contract mechanisms, Winvic Construction Ltd has been awarded two Lot contracts across four regions within the new Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF). Winvic is one of 50 contractors to deliver £3.6 billion of road renewal works on England’s motorways and trunk roads over the next six years. The leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects,has worked closely alongside and for National Highways on a number of occasions. This includes extensive liaison relating to the construction of a new railway bridge over the A5 at Prologis’ DIRFT III, delivering S278 agreement works that facilitated IM Properties’ Hinckley Park and working collaboratively on two Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for SEGRO, where delivery of the Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges (SRFIs) and highways improvements works ran concurrently and adjacently to the M1 Smart Motorway Project (SMP). However, this six-year appointment which started on 21 September marks the start of an even stronger working relationship where Winvic will be helping to keep England’s major A roads and motorways running safely and smoothly. The two lots awarded to Winvic within Band C are Lot 8 Structures, Waterproofing and Expansion Joints and Lot 10 Structures, Structural Services & Concrete Repairs. Winvic will be undertaking works in these programme areas across the south east, east, north west and north east. Social value was inherent throughout the procurement process, ensuring that suppliers are measured on their contribution and impact socially within each region. Plus, the SDF supports the delivery of National Highways’ decarbonisation, sustainability and environmental ambitions across its renewals programme. Winvic – with its robust environmental credentials and commitment to making positive and long-lasting changes to communities in which it works – was therefore in a strong position during tender process and now the main contractor has been selected, it is not only looking forward to delivering works, but also supporting local people and being a part of a greener highways strategy. Critically, Winvic will be promoting its one team working approach in the SDF and aligning with National Highways Key imperatives, Safety, Customer and Delivery. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Civils and Infrastructure Director, said: “Winvic has built a strong relationship with National Highways over a number of years, not least through the complex collaborations at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway and then SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, where we remain on site and undertake weekly, if not daily interfaces. Therefore, working on more significant National Highways renewal projects is a natural progression for us due to our expertise in highways works involving structures, through both S278 agreement works and on vast industrial and infrastructure schemes. We couldn’t be more pleased that National Highways has the utmost confidence in Winvic to deliver over the six-year period, aligning with its key imperatives and focusing on building a one-team collaborative working relationship in the SDF. Whether it’s going above and beyond to reduce disruption to road users, getting involved in local initiatives that make a difference to local people’s lives or simply ‘Doing It Right’, our visions are aligned, and we look forward to delivering the first programme of works safely and swiftly.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.
HS2 has recently revealed the colossal logistics operation that is taking place at HS2’s logistics hub near Willesden Junction. The 30-acre site will be the beating heart of the logistics operation for HS2 in London, and will be where earth from the 26 miles of tunnel will be processed and critical construction materials, such as pre-cast tunnel segment rings, will be delivered. The hub has been constructed and will be operated by HS2’s Main Works Civils Contractor, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV). The construction of HS2’s London tunnels will require 5.6million tonnes of earth to be excavated. After being processed at the site near Willesden Junction, it will be taken by train to three locations across the UK – Barrington in Cambridgeshire, Cliffe in Kent, and Rugby in Warwickshire – where it will put to beneficial reuse, filling voids which will then be used as a basis for redevelopment, such as house building. The site will also receive over 100,000 pre-cast tunnel segment rings which will be used to form the walls of the London tunnels, delivered by rail from UK manufacturing sites. HS2’s contractor SCS JV has already confirmed that the first contract for pre-cast tunnel segment rings has been awarded to Pacadar UK, and will be delivered to the site from their factory in the Isle of Grain in Kent. At peak operation, eight trains per day will depart and arrive at the logistics hub, maximising the use of rail freight in the construction of HS2 in London and resulting in one million lorry movements not going on UK roads. Speaking at the opening of HS2’s Logistics Hub, HS2’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Thurston said: “In building Britain’s new high-speed railway, HS2 is committed to protecting the environment and minimising our carbon footprint during design, construction and operation. As a result, we are moving as much material as we can by rail as part of our Materials by Rail programme. “The logistics hub at Willesden will be the beating heart of our London logistics operation and is a critical part of how we are building HS2.” The operation is being coordinated from a refurbished building on the site. Sheffield based SME, 3Squared, has developed a bespoke rail logistics software solution to manage and track the railway materials movements in and out. Speaking about the scale of the operation, Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture Managing Director, James Richardson, said: “The logistics hub is central to the London Tunnels programme. Collaborating with other partners delivering HS2, we will remove 5.6million tonnes of spoil by rail and bringing in our tunnel segments, taking one million lorry journeys off the road. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and by using rail we will reduce our carbon emissions for logistics by 40%.” Tim Jones, Managing Director of 3Squared, said: “It is fantastic to see the hard work and effort coming to fruition in this large-scale logistics operation, which will radically improve efficiencies and operations across the wider UK transport network. Joining the HS2 project has marked an exciting chapter in 3Squared’s journey, and we look forward to continuing to work with SCS JV and providing our technological skill and expertise, as HS2 progresses.” The London Logistics Hub sits on the old Freightliner Terminal site that first opened in 1967. It went on to become one of nine regional freight terminals developed specifically to handle Channel Tunnel intermodal traffic but eventually went into disuse in 2005. The site’s connections to the conventional railway make it an ideal location to coordinate HS2’s London logistics operation. The logistics trains are currently operated by GB Railfreight and the entire operation is the result of meticulous planning between HS2, Network Rail, SCS JV and HS2’s supply chain. The first train departed the site at the end of June, taking 1,470 tonnes of spoil to Barrington in Cambridgeshire. John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight said: “Today’s opening marks a huge commitment to reducing the impact of carbon emissions caused by construction and we’re proud to jointly recognise this with HS2 by unveiling the fittingly rebranded Class 66, ‘The Green Progressor’. “HS2 Willesden’s logistics hub promises to support the growth of rail freight in the UK by removing one million HGVs from our capital’s roads alone. By increasing the amount of material transported by rail freight for the construction of HS2 in London, GBRf will continue to play a leading role in the delivery of Government’s net zero targets and the decarbonisation of transport.” Nick Coles, Programme Manager, Network Rail, said: “We’ve been working with HS2 and its supply chain on their plans to move excavated materials by rail from the Willesden logistics hub. Timetable, operations and infrastructure preparations have long been in the making and it is a credit to all parties involved that freight services have started life so smoothly. “Today, the UK railway network is supporting approximately 60 rail freight services a week for HS2 and we’ll continue to work closely with its industry partners to make as many carbon savings as possible.”
Project will increase the capacity of London Gateway logistics hub A Dubai-based logistics company has announced that it will begin work next month on a new fourth berth at its London Gateway logistics hub. The £300m scheme, which is designed to increase supply chain resilience and create more capacity for the world’s largest vessels, comes on top of the £2bn DP World has ploughed into the UK over the past decade. British ports have been under pressure from Brexit and coronavirus-fuelled stockpiling surges that have caused UK businesses to face vastly higher container shipping costs than normal. This has been one of the factors helping drive pressure on the construction materials crisis. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and chief executive of DP World, said: “As a central pillar of Thames Freeport, London Gateway’s new fourth berth will allow even more customers to benefit from world class ports and logistics, with unrivalled global connectivity, on the doorstep of Europe’s largest consumer market.” In the first six months of 2021 London Gateway saw record throughput of 888,000 20-foot-long containers – up 23% on the previous best performance for the first half of a year. The new fourth berth will raise capacity by a third and completion will coincide with the delivery of a new wave of 24,000 20-foot-long container vessels in 2023/2024, which will all be operated between Asia and Europe. Along with the Port of Tilbury and Ford’s Dagenham plant DP World London Gateway will form the Thames Freeport, which was awarded freeport status by the government earlier this year. DP World Southampton has also been awarded freeport status as part of Solent Freeport.
Innovation initiative targets diversity-focussed companies in latest recruiting round to help drive development of UK SMEs Of the Innovation Accelerator’s third cohort, two of the five SMEs have female CEOs or founders, and three have BAME CEOs or founders HS2 Ltd has launched a new phase in the development of the UK’s SME tech sector with the opening to a third cohort of its successful Innovation Accelerator programme, delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult and Bruntwood SciTech. The company delivering Britain’s new high speed rail network took a conscious decision to reach new and diverse thinking by focusing on small digital and data technology firms and building strategic partnerships with diversity-focused entrepreneurial SMEs. Putting measures in place to champion equality, diversity and inclusion, such as assessing applications blind and anonymously, enabled HS2 to secure a diverse talent pool. As a result, two of the third cohort’s five SMEs have female CEOs or founders, and three have BAME CEOs or founders. HS2 Ltd Innovation Manager, Rob Cairns said: “With the third cohort intake we focused on reaching a diverse range of businesses who we believe can bring fresh thinking and a new perspective to our mission of reducing HS2’s carbon footprint and improving the health and safety of our teams, as well as the security of our worksites.” Entering the Accelerator in August, the five firms were chosen to develop techniques for designing carbon out from the railway and to monitor and improve site safety and security. As one of the most sustainable high speed railways in the world, HS2 will support the UK in making the transition to a net zero carbon economy. It has set a commitment to reduce the carbon impact of construction on the project by 50%, as well as delivering low carbon journeys and cutting carbon emissions from other forms of transport. The Innovation Accelerator’s new entrants are: Looper, established by Yiqiang Zhao, is developing cutting-edge technology that analyses designs to ensure that the plans and materials use the least-carbon intensive options. HS2 Ltd believes the technology can be refined on Phase One of the project and deployed across later phases. Looper’s founder, Yiqiang Zhao, said: “The HS2 Accelerator provides an ideal platform for us to further validate, fine-tune and embed our solution into the biggest infrastructure project in Europe. It’s a great opportunity for us to help HS2 contractors automate carbon tracking and calculations through the design and build. In the four months of the programme, we hope to secure a pilot project and seek fundraising.” MachineMax is developing technology to monitor and improve the operating efficiency of worksite plant and machinery. It will identify where assets are working below capacity in order to cut emissions, accelerate works programmes and reduce costs. A key feature of Machine Max’s software is that it is “agnostic”, meaning it can be used on any make of site equipment. MachineMax CEO Shweta Saxena said: “We are so excited to be in Cohort 3 of the HS2 Accelerator. It is a great opportunity to work with best in class professionals and be part of the innovation that will leave a legacy in the UK for years to come. Our goal is to integrate MachineMax across the HS2 digital ecosystem and connect the entirety of the fleet to monitor and improve on-site emissions and efficiency.” Tended, founded by Leo Scott Smith when he was aged 22, enters the Innovation Accelerator to develop wearable technology for worksite teams. It works to improve worksite safety practices with a buzz to alert the wearer to a potential risk. In addition, by feeding the risk alerts back to a central database, the programme can build a site map and identify if hotspots are occurring so that the repeated risk can be remedied. Tended founder Leo Scott Smith said: “We’re very excited to be working with HS2. We share the ambition to transform safety on site and set the standards for others to follow. Working with HS2, we believe that Tended’s blend of technological capability and deep understanding of human behaviour can revolutionise site safety for HS2 and its supply chain.” FYLD’s technology uses artificial intelligence, language processing and machine learning to inform site teams’ safety, quality and productivity decisions. The solution’s safety features include high-risk job alerts and proactive fatigue management. Equipping teams with these data-driven actionable insights delivers safer, more productive, and environmentally-friendly operations. FYLD CEO, Shelley Copsey said: “We are confident that as the UK accelerates the progress of one of the most exciting transport projects in Europe, our technology will have a transformative impact on field workers and rail businesses alike. We’re looking forward to collaborating with both HS2 Ltd and the other cohorts as part of this programme as we make an impact through increased efficiencies, improved health and safety, and a lower carbon footprint.” Sensing Feeling’s solution for de-risking construction sites uses advanced sensing software powered by computer vision and machine learning to detect how people, machines and vehicles behave in real-time. Founder Jag Minhas said: “We’re super-excited to be joining some really smart companies in bringing innovative technologies to HS2. We’re looking forward to working with potential ecosystem clients and cohort collaborators to accelerate the use of advanced sensing products to make places safer for workers and customers.”
Leading wet civil engineers Land & Water has completed dredging works on behalf of the Isle of Man Government as part of a wider three-year project which has removed over 22,000m3 of silt from Peel Marina. This has helped to significantly improve the water depths, improving the marina’s access and functionality for years to come. Having previously removed approx. 40% of silt last year, using its specialist plant including long reach excavators on floating barges, Land & Water has now dredged the remaining materials between March and May this year. All silt has been transported to the drying lagoon which was constructed and lined by Land & Water last spring for storage and dewatering. The lagoon was carefully constructed to meet specific requirements, meaning that any remaining heavy metals and other contaminants can be safely contained. Now that the dredging is complete, the material will be allowed to dry before being removed to a licensed facility. The former greenfield site will then be returned to its original state. Charlie Oakes, Project Manager at Land & Water, said: “We are pleased to have completed this groundbreaking three-year project and to have supported the Isle of Man Government in its all-important venture to safeguard Peel Marina. “Having returned to the island in February this year, during the Isle of Man’s third national lockdown, I would like to thank the dedicated Land & Water project team who were willing to travel and stay away from their homes and families to ensure we could continue delivering high quality services to improve and maintain waterways across every part of the UK. “Going above and beyond for our clients is something that we pride ourselves on at Land & Water and I am proud to have witnessed the strength and commitment from the project team during such challenging circumstances.” The Peel Marina dredging project was only one of two major contracts to be allowed to continue working on the Isle of Man during the previous lockdown period. The Land & Water team complied with all Coronavirus guidelines by self-isolating on the island beforehand and taking the required Covid-19 tests. After showing its resilience and ability to adapt working methods to meet the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions, Land & Water has re-established the efficiency of Peel Marina for the future. The Peel Marina project is vital to the local community; this work promises to ease pressures put on the marina, ensuring that it is restored to its correct level for access and operation. This will continue to bring real economic benefits to Peel. With the works split across two phases, every stage of this project was carefully considered and structured to safely handle the materials removed from this site. Land & Water is proud to have contributed to a project which promises to bring about such positive change.
Children from Howard Community Academy in Bury St. Edmunds have come up with the names of the roads on a new housing development, Lyle Place. As part of the Keepmoat Homes’ ongoing commitment to the local community, pupils from the school were invited to suggest street names for the new development’s roads, which when completed, will comprise of 79 new homes. The local history of the area has been recognised by the naming of four roads at the new housing development and to acknowledge the school’s former site, along with Howard Park which is adjacent to the development, Howard Road, submitted by Aly (aged 11) was chosen as one of the new street names. In honour of Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, who’s final resting place is at Bury St. Edmunds, Westhorpe Avenue was put forward by Mackenzie (aged 11), which pays homage to Westhorpe Hall, the residence of Mary Tudor and the Duke of Suffolk, Charles Brandon. Other road names at Lyle Place include Charles Place which has been named after Charles Brandon, the second husband of Mary Tudor, and Frances Street which has been named after the daughter of Mary Tudor. All the street names are now present at the development, and the pupils of the winning road names each received £40 national book token as appreciation for their suggestions. “We’re delighted to have worked with Howard Community Academy to name the new roads at Lyle Place. The children came up with some exciting new road names which recognises the important history of the area,” said Mick O’Farrell, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes. “The site is located on the former Howard Community Primary School and it’s important to us to get the community involved in the redevelopment of their local area. The street naming was a perfect example of how we not only look to the future by bringing much-needed new homes to the area, but also harness the rich history in the area.” In partnership with The Newbury Community Association (NCA), Suffolk Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Lyle Place will comprise of 56 properties for the open market along with 23 homes which will be available as affordable housing via Havebury Housing. This is the homebuilder’s first development in Bury St. Edmunds and the company will deliver a mix of two- three- and four-bedroom homes, with a range of house types and styles to suit a diverse market. The development will also include a number of amenities for both new and existing residents including a brand-new community centre, a large parkland area and additional outdoor spaces. Work on the development is due to take two years, with the last home completion due Autumn 2022.
