Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, has helped develop an innovative and clean energy solution which illustrates the potential of sustainable surveillance technologies in remote locations. In response to a request to produce a system to document part of a major programme of improvements to Scotland’s A9 carriageway,
New images show discovery of a skeleton from the Iron Age buried face down and with hands tied as part of HS2 archaeology in Buckinghamshire Other discoveries at the site span over 4000 years of human history, including a circular timber monument resembling the layout of Stonehenge. Archaeologists working on
In an attempt to attract new national and international businesses, the developer of AirView Park has welcomed the return of flights from Newcastle International Airport. Routes including Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Belfast, Paris and Southampton, have all resumed, and with more business flights to start very shortly. Developer Tynexe said the resumption
Acorn’s Rail division has become the first Welsh SME in 2020 to receive a Trackside Principal Contractors Licence from Network Rail. Principal Contractors License is a requirement over and above CDM (Construction, Design Management), and whilst Principal Contractor requirements are specific to Network Rail it is deemed the gold standard
HS2 takes steps to ensure that cash flow to suppliers at all tiers of the supply chain is expedited during the Covid-19 pandemic In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and concerns about the impact on the cash flow within the construction industry, HS2 supplier payment runs have been accelerated to
Balfour Beatty VINCI today announces the appointment of Michael Dyke as Managing Director, responsible for providing strategic leadership for the delivery of its HS2 main civil engineering contracts between the Long Itchington Wood Green tunnel to the West Coast Main Line tie-in, worth a combined total of c. £5 billion.
Access to East Midlands Airport has been improved with the official launch of a new 2.5km route. A £10 million infrastructure scheme has reached completion, delivering the Castle Donington relief road in Leicestershire. This provides a much-needed link from the airport to the A50. Principal contractor Chasetown Civil Engineering worked
Amey Consulting is set to bring its data science expertise to Highways England courtesy of a new contract. The firm will work with Highways England’s chief data office to provide a framework and the latest tools to enable a data science service and will deliver several data science projects to
Kier Highways has been awarded the 15-month interim highways services contract for Birmingham Highways Ltd (BHL) from 1 April 2019 to 29 June 2020. The contract includes the city’s traffic operations, planned and reactive maintenance, inspections and winter servicing. It covers more than 2,500km of road and 5,000km of footways,
Despite recent comments from the Prime minister, Heathrow Airport is ploughing ahead with its plans to expand. The company is set to submit planning for expansion later this year and they want full government backing. So, what is the planned expansion and why has Boris Johnson potential scuppered the airline’s
Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, has helped develop an innovative and clean energy solution which illustrates the potential of sustainable surveillance technologies in remote locations. In response to a request to produce a system to document part of a major programme of improvements to Scotland’s A9 carriageway, Axis and its partner Camera Control UK, developed a solution which is capable of capturing high quality 4K time-lapse imagery using entirely renewable sources. One of the main challenges was that the solution needed to be able to capture high-quality surveillance video in an area with no communication networks or local power, while coping with weather extremes and construction logistics. With diesel generators disregarded due to the pollutants they would produce, and the challenges associated with trying to lay power cables over a considerable distance along a route that twists and turns, a clean and sustainable solution was required. The highways project will see a 10 mile stretch of the A9 from Perth to Inverness widened to increase the efficiency of the route and allow for smoother traffic flow. After winning a tender to document the project, local company, MB Productions Ltd, commissioned Camera Control UK to produce a solution. Camera Control UK in turn contacted Axis Communications, the industry leader in network video technology, to work in collaboration. The resulting video would be used for audit purposes, to provide evidence of best practice, and to serve as example material for future projects. Martin Naylor, Director of Camera Control UK, elaborates: “We realised it had to be an off-grid solution to avoid using local power; a solution that could incorporate wireless communications and utilise renewable energy sources to be environmentally friendly and sustainable over the longer term.” To bring the solution to life, AXIS P1448-LE 4K short bullet cameras were chosen for their robustness and durability. The final system uses eight solar power packs, charged by a mixture of wind turbine and solar PV panels. Eight towers with mounted cameras are employed at various key touchpoints along the A9. Communications masts, installed to enable cloud connectivity, ensured that the Axis cameras, connected via the IoT, were able to deliver imagery of incredible quality. The whole solution illustrates the possibilities for innovation when utilising the natural elements, having a virtually zero carbon footprint. All captured video is relayed back to a central control location using a dedicated wireless network. The whole system can be remotely monitored to continually check its status of operation. Remote management also enables the cameras to be fine-tuned for precision imagery of the work in progress, without the need to manually touch the cameras, or even to be on-site in person. Martin Naylor commented on the relationship with Axis that has made this solution possible: “Axis really values innovation and is therefore an ideal partner, not only because the team takes the time to understand the challenges when trying to push the boundaries of what’s possible in surveillance, but also because their drive towards sustainable and ethical practices is an inspiration to other technology companies.” Matt Brown, Director, MBP, said of the solution: “We are now able to capture fantastic 4K imagery of the ongoing work on the A9. Camera Control UK has produced an entirely green solution; an incredible feat of engineering. The Axis cameras are in a completely different league, in terms of quality, to others we’ve seen. This project has been a great success.”
New images show discovery of a skeleton from the Iron Age buried face down and with hands tied as part of HS2 archaeology in Buckinghamshire Other discoveries at the site span over 4000 years of human history, including a circular timber monument resembling the layout of Stonehenge. Archaeologists working on the HS2 project in Buckinghamshire have discovered a skeleton believed to be a murder victim from the Iron Age. During the excavation work at Wellwick Farm near Wendover, archaeologists discovered a skeleton of an adult male buried face down in a ditch with hands bound together under his pelvis. The unusual burial position suggests the iron age man may have been a victim of a murder or execution. Osteologists are currently examining the skeleton for further evidence of foul play. The archaeological works have revealed a wealth of archaeology with evidence of human activity dating from the Neolithic to the Medieval period, a time spanning around 4000 years. The land to the west of Wendover seems to have been persistently used for ceremonial activity as archaeologists also uncovered a large circular monument of wooden posts 65 meters in diameter with features aligned with the winter solstice, similar to Stonehenge in Wiltshire. At Wellwick Farm, archaeologists believe the Bronze Age and Iron Age saw the addition of some domestic occupation with at least one roundhouse identified and possible structures such as animal pens and pits used for disposing food. During the Roman period, this occupation may have moved to the current location of Wendover but the Wellwick Farm site was still used for burials. In a square enclosure on the site, archaeologists discovered a skeleton in a coffin that was lined with lead, with the outer coffin likely made of wood. Archaeologists believe that the buried individual must have been someone of high status as they had the means to pay for such an expensive method of burial. The section of the HS2 route is being prepared to build the Wendover Green Tunnel and the Wendover North Cutting. The archaeology programme is a central part of HS2’s ground preparation works for Phase One of the project – London to Birmingham. HS2, its contractors and supply chain are well underway with a programme of work, clearing sites, ahead of main construction. Commenting on the archaeological work, Dr. Rachel Wood, Project Archaeologist said: “We already knew that Buckinghamshire is rich in archaeology but discovering a site showing human activity spanning 4,000 years came as a bit of a surprise to us. “The death of the Wellwick Farm man remains a mystery to us but there aren’t many ways you end up in a bottom of a ditch, face down, with your hands bound. We hope our osteologists will be able to shed more light on this potentially gruesome death. “The large wooden ceremonial structure, the Roman lead burial and the mystery of the skeleton at Wellwick Farm helps bring alive the fact that people lived, worked and died in this area long before we came along.“ The announcement of the discovery comes at the at the start of the Festival of British Archaeology, an annual event taking place over nine days between 11th and 19th July. HS2 will be taking part, hosting digital events showcasing recent archaeological discoveries. Mike Court, HS2 Lead Archaeologist said: “Before we build the low-carbon high-speed railway between London and Birmingham, we are uncovering a wealth of archaeology that will enrich our cultural heritage. “Our discoveries will be shared with communities and the public through virtual lectures, open days and in an upcoming BBC archaeology documentary. “The sheer scale of possible discoveries, the geographical span and the vast range of our history to be unearthed makes HS2’s archaeology programme a unique opportunity to tell the story of Buckinghamshire and Britain.”
In an attempt to attract new national and international businesses, the developer of AirView Park has welcomed the return of flights from Newcastle International Airport. Routes including Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Belfast, Paris and Southampton, have all resumed, and with more business flights to start very shortly. Developer Tynexe said the resumption would help to attract national and international organisations now diversifying operations regionally, or establishing a UK base as part of their growth and recovery strategy. The 175,000 sq ft site has secured housebuilder Bellway as its first anchor tenant, with planning permission for up to four more bespoke office buildings or a 150,000 sq ft premises in place. “Connectivity to other parts of the UK, Europe and beyond has always been a key selling point of AirView Park as a commercial development, therefore having flights restart is a welcome sign for the site as well as the regional economy,” said Mike Clark, development director of Tynexe Commercial Ltd and Dysart Developments. “There have been discussions over recent months as to how home working is the new way forward and how office space could become redundant, and whilst true for some companies, this isn’t necessarily accurate. A significant number of organisations will revert back to office-based working, and with many bigger companies now establishing smaller regional centres and geographical bases in and around the UK, we’re in a great position to offer bespoke build or relocation options.” Nick Jones, chief executive of Newcastle International Airport, added: “AirView Park will help to generate new jobs and significant economic benefits by creating more international trade opportunities for the region. Its location is second to none, on airport land just a few minutes from the terminal building. Newcastle International Airport is fully behind this project and we look forward to welcoming the businesses that decide to locate to the site.”
Acorn’s Rail division has become the first Welsh SME in 2020 to receive a Trackside Principal Contractors Licence from Network Rail. Principal Contractors License is a requirement over and above CDM (Construction, Design Management), and whilst Principal Contractor requirements are specific to Network Rail it is deemed the gold standard within the rail industry, and it recognises Acorn Rail’s ability to discharge Principal Contractor duties during construction work carried out on behalf of Network Rail. It also permits Acorn to tender for all maintenance, labour or contract work issued by the national body. The licence provides assurance that Acorn Rail, as a Principal Contractor, has appropriate and robust HSQE management systems to effectively discharge its duties under official construction regulations and meet all additional requirements of Network Rail. The licence is issued in accordance with the Network Rail Principal Contractor Licensing Scheme NR/L2/INI/CP0070. Kevin Morris, Director of Rail at Acorn Rail, said: “Our new status as a Principal Contractor for Network Rail is testament to the continued commitment that this highly successful division of Acorn has shown in operating responsibly, and to the highest of standards required by the UK rail industry today. Acorn Rail works with a broad range of clients to undertake rail projects across the UK including civil engineering, track renewals, signalling, power & telecoms, tunnelling, and mechanical and engineering. “Our Rail Division is supported by an experienced in-house quality management and compliance team, which has proven its robustness time and time again through ongoing audits. This Principal Contract Licence is a logical next step in our continued progression as a highly effective and well-respected supplier to the rail and civil engineering industries. Furthermore, we are now in a fantastic position to support our clients’ and our own visions of delivering the drivers of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, support sustainability and help create a thriving Wales. Acorn Rail is seeking to follow in the successful footsteps of its parent company Acorn Recruitment, which has a lengthy track record of organic growth, working with hundreds of UK and international businesses and supporting UK job seekers through its specialist teams and a network of more than 30 branches nationwide. Acorn places some 6,000 people every week into temporary roles and more than 1,700 people into permanent roles every year. Acorn’s Group Managing Director, Matt Southall said: “The Principal Contractors Licence that our specialist rail team has been awarded is a good reflection of the whole Acorn group, and our commitment to quality, safety and compliance in everything we do. “We are delighted for all those working within the rail division who support and help maintain such a vital part of the UK transport infrastructure, and we look forward to fulfilling this role even more effectively as a result of this new status we have been given by Network Rail.” For more information visit www.acornpeople.com
HS2 takes steps to ensure that cash flow to suppliers at all tiers of the supply chain is expedited during the Covid-19 pandemic In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and concerns about the impact on the cash flow within the construction industry, HS2 supplier payment runs have been accelerated to ensure that they are being made in a timely manner. HS2 is accelerating payments to all companies directly in its supply chain, processing approved payments immediately when funds are available, rather than on the contracted payment terms. Tier One contractors in the HS2 supply chain are to mirror this and have the duty to ensure the approach is followed through all tiers of the supply chain. HS2 has written to all its direct suppliers requiring that faster payments are made to all companies in its supply chain in all tiers reflecting HS2’s approach. This will provide reassurance to firms working on the project and should help ensure that stability remains within the HS2 supply chain. At a time of economic concern due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this should go some way to alleviate concerns about financial certainty for companies in, and aligned to, the construction sector. Government approval for the next stage of the HS2 project last month has meant HS2 contractors now have the go ahead to start building the new low carbon, high speed railway – provided they can maintain Public Health England (PHE) and industry guidelines. It marks the point in the Main Works Civils (MWC) contracts where the work transitions from scheme design and preparatory work, to full detailed design and construction, as well as unlocking a huge amounts of new contract opportunities for the construction sector. An estimated 400,000 supply chain contract opportunities for UK businesses will be created during Phase One of HS2, supporting thousands of jobs on site and many more around the country. It is estimated that around 95% of those contract opportunities will be won by UK based businesses and around two thirds of those will be small and medium sized businesses. HS2 Ltd’s Commercial and Procurement Director, David Poole, said: “As we emerge from the pandemic, HS2 will play a crucial role in the recovery of the UK economy and provide a much-needed boost to the construction industry and the many jobs that industry supports. By taking these steps to speed up supplier payments, and by requiring this to continue throughout the supply chain, businesses large or small within the whole HS2 supply chain can feel confident they will be supported by HS2 Ltd.” Progress is being made on HS2, with construction activities ongoing and procurement activity on the project continuing. Last week, HS2 launched the procurement of track contracts, and at the end of April began the search for stations lifts and escalators suppliers. Despite some disruption to regular business practices as a result of the pandemic, HS2 has continued to engage with the business community, participating in online supply chain engagement events organised through industry bodies. HS2 Ltd is committed to continue with this engagement and encourages businesses interested in winning work on HS2 to use resources available on the HS2 website, CompeteFor and through industry bodies to find out more information.
Balfour Beatty VINCI today announces the appointment of Michael Dyke as Managing Director, responsible for providing strategic leadership for the delivery of its HS2 main civil engineering contracts between the Long Itchington Wood Green tunnel to the West Coast Main Line tie-in, worth a combined total of c. £5 billion. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Michael is a proven leader responsible for managing large infrastructure projects, programmes and businesses across multiple geographies and sectors. Most recently, he was Chief Executive Officer for eight2O, the water alliance that brought together Thames Water and seven other global contracting and consulting businesses. Michael Dyke, Balfour Beatty VINCI Managing Director HS2, said: “This is a particularly exciting time to be joining Balfour Beatty VINCI, having received Notice to Proceed for the main works civil engineering contracts last month. I look forward to working alongside HS2 and our expert people and supply chain partners, to safely and successfully deliver this critical piece of national infrastructure.” Balfour Beatty VINCI, a long-established joint venture between two global infrastructure leaders, was awarded two main works civil engineering contracts worth a combined total of c. £5 billion in July 2017. The joint venture subsequently received Notice to Proceed in April 2020, marking a major milestone in Britain’s largest regeneration project which will create thousands of employment opportunities, dramatically increase rail capacity and support the economic growth of the UK.
Access to East Midlands Airport has been improved with the official launch of a new 2.5km route. A £10 million infrastructure scheme has reached completion, delivering the Castle Donington relief road in Leicestershire. This provides a much-needed link from the airport to the A50. Principal contractor Chasetown Civil Engineering worked with Leicestershire County Council and designers IDOM Merebrook to deliver the scheme. Pick Everard also delivered project management, quantity surveying and health and safety advisory services Paul Gibbs, associate director at Pick Everard said: “Although the road is quite short in terms of distance, the project required a significant amount of technical understanding. It was an incredibly complex infrastructure project to deliver, with constraints including: construction taking place under a 185,000 volt power line; the demolition of an abandoned underground reservoir and the site’s close proximity to East Midlands Airport. “Airports have strict guidelines on how neighbouring construction works affecting the land will alter wildlife patterns. We had to be mindful of grass seeding and vegetation specification, considering the length of grass, height of mounds and hedgerows planted in relation to bird patterns. “We held ‘bird strike mitigation meetings’ every two weeks with East Midlands Airport, monitoring bird flight and feeding patterns throughout the duration of the works. “Wildlife requirements were also balanced alongside security considerations when working in proximity to the airport boundary security fencing. “Further public liaison meetings took place with local councils and groups for the duration of the project to ensure minimum impact on the local community.” The new road now also provides access points for Miller Homes, Redrow Homes and Clowes Developments’ 900-unit housing development and neighbouring commercial schemes. Jake Richardson, engineering manager at Miller Homes Midlands added: “We feel very strongly about leaving a positive legacy that benefits the local community wherever we build. This approach has been guiding us since we announced our Charters Gate development in the area. “By joining forces with the two neighbouring developers and working closely with our contractors, including Pick Everard, we’ve delivered a complex but very much needed piece of local infrastructure. Built to help ease traffic in a busy commuter hotspot for Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, we hope it will benefit both residents and local businesses for years to come. “This is just one way Miller Homes is investing in Castle Donington, alongside building a new primary school, sports pitch and village park to support our £1.5 million Section 106 contributions to the area.”
Amey Consulting is set to bring its data science expertise to Highways England courtesy of a new contract. The firm will work with Highways England’s chief data office to provide a framework and the latest tools to enable a data science service and will deliver several data science projects to demonstrate the benefits of a data-driven approach. This new service will enable Highways England to identify and deliver data science projects to unlock insights from their data and use this to implement and embed sustainable, data led business improvement into the organisation. This will deliver benefits in safety, customer experience and delivery and forms a key part of their new Information Vision & Strategy. Alex Gilbert, Managing Director of Amey Consulting, said: “This is a fantastic result for the business, and we’re excited to be working closely with Highways England and playing an important part in delivering their Information Vision and Strategy. It builds on a successful year for our Strategic Consulting team, who also secured major opportunities with Network Rail as part of their Intelligent Infrastructure programme and the nationwide roll-out of our Quartz platform to improve train performance across all routes.” Jon Drea, Head of Data Science for Highways England, added: “I am delighted to bring Amey Consulting’s data science expertise to Highways England. They are developing the service to transform processes for the better across our organisation. By unlocking the power of information, we can fulfil our purpose of connecting the country through better journeys.” Amey Consulting is now on the look out for new data science professionals, as it expands its team of 140 under the contract.
Kier Highways has been awarded the 15-month interim highways services contract for Birmingham Highways Ltd (BHL) from 1 April 2019 to 29 June 2020. The contract includes the city’s traffic operations, planned and reactive maintenance, inspections and winter servicing. It covers more than 2,500km of road and 5,000km of footways, as well as 846 structures, three tunnels, 94,000 street lighting columns, 76,000 highway trees and the city’s traffic control system. Joe Incutti, Kier Acting Group Managing Director for Highways said: “We are delighted to be appointed to the Birmingham Highways contract and have a wealth of experience in successfully designing and maintaining local authority roads. We’re a trusted supplier and already operate in the midlands delivering maintenance to one of the most complex and busy highway networks in the UK, including Spaghetti Junction, which carries 60,000 vehicles each day. “We are looking forward to working alongside Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Highways Ltd on this contract to keep roads in Birmingham safe and reliable.” Natasha Rouse, Chief Executive of BHL, said: “We look forward to working with Kier. The company has put together a robust offer that demonstrates its ability to provide a good quality of service and mobilise quickly and efficiently. We aim to achieve a seamless transition to our new provider while continuing to service the city’s highways network.” Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “I am pleased that Kier has put a compelling and competitive bid to us to maintain the city’s highways. Its reputation as a leading national roads operator should give welcomed assurance to the people of Birmingham that we have put the safe and efficient servicing of our streets at the heart of this process.” Kier Highways manages 30,000km of the UK’s strategic and local authority road network, currently working with a wide range of local authorities in the country. It delivers highway services to 4.2m people and its routine reactive maintenance includes emptying gullies, surface treatment and repairing potholes.
Despite recent comments from the Prime minister, Heathrow Airport is ploughing ahead with its plans to expand. The company is set to submit planning for expansion later this year and they want full government backing. So, what is the planned expansion and why has Boris Johnson potential scuppered the airline’s plans? What is the planned expansion? The planned Heathrow expansion includes the addition of a third runway. The company’s plans for expansion were announced last year and sustainability was revealed to be at the heart of the new plans. According to Heathrow, the new expansion would generate 10,000 more apprenticeships by 2030, provide new routes and create up to 180,000 new jobs. However, the planned expansion caused heated debates after it was announced due to some of its proposals. These included lowering the M25 motorway, re-routing rivers and building additional car parks to house 50,000 cars. It is certainly a bold expansion which has been met with a lot of opposition. However, the benefits it would provide to the economy would be significant. Why is there doubt over its implementation? Doubt over the implementation of the new expansion has been cast after Boris Johnson gave the go ahead for the HS2 project. However, the prime minister has previously expressed his opposition to the airport’s expansion, claiming he would “lie down in front of bulldozers to stop the construction”. Now that Johnson is Prime minster, Heathrow airport need his approval if they are to continue with the proposed expansion. Given his previous stance on the matter, it is unlikely they are going to receive full government backing later this year. The benefits the expansion would provide So, what benefits would the third runway provide at Heathrow airport? Well, it wouldn’t just benefit passengers taking trips abroad. It would also benefit the air cargo sector. The airport has been running at 98% for the past decade. It is the biggest air freight airport in the UK and the expansion could further boost its air freight capacity. This would be crucial in terms of international trade, something the country now has to secure since its exit from the EU. It would boost the air cargo sector enormously, delivering a lot of great benefits to the country. As well as the air freight sector, the airport would be able to add thousands of additional flights to its schedule. It is said that this will also increase competition, allowing passengers to secure cheaper, more competitive prices. Whether the new expansion will go ahead later this year is uncertain. It does seem unlikely the government will back the plans, particularly given how much they are now spending on the HS2 project. However, that isn’t stopping Heathrow from continuing on with their application.