A project to repair and replace two sections of parallel rising mains will rehabilitate an important section of the East London sewer network and will deploy innovative offsite manufacturing to replace an existing discharge chamber. Thames Water has appointed civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale to carry out the £7.8
Leading capital infrastructure and engineering services company, Avove, has been awarded a multi-million-pound design and build framework agreement with Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) as part of NWG’s Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) £3.6 billion investment programme. The design and build framework, which commences in January 2024 for up to 12
Appointment adds to Costain’s wins in the new water regulatory cycle Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been appointed by Northumbrian Water (NWG) to help shape and deliver its strategic infrastructure upgrade programme. The framework will see contracts awarded with the potential value of up to £670m to Costain over
The first pipes have been laid in a new 57km water pipeline, which will support supplies to more than 200,000 people across the North East. Northumbrian Water’s Project Pipeline: County Durham and the Tees Valley is a huge £155m investment in futureproofing the resilience and quality of water supply to
Earth Change, a division of the Land & Water Group, alongside Project Seagrass and Swansea University Unveil Groundbreaking Automated Seagrass Planter, Revolutionising Large-Scale Seagrass Planting Land & Water, a leading environmental engineering company, and Project Seagrass, a renowned marine conservation organisation, are proud to announce the successful design, construction, and
Yorkshire Water has selected BarhaleEnpure Joint Venture for an £18M project to upgrade Phosphorous removal and flow monitoring at its Dewsbury Wastewater Treatment Works. On completion, the works will ensure Phosphorus concentrations in the final effluent meet water industry national environment programme (WINEP) targets for England. The installation of a UMON4
Thames Water has awarded civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale a £16.8M contract to upgrade an important water trunk main running through the London Boroughs of Barnet and Enfield. The work, which forms part of Thames Water’s AMP7 Conditional Allowance Trunk Main Schemes, will protect future water supply in the
Yorkshire Water is investing £36m in six projects in west Leeds and Bradford to improve water quality within Pudsey Beck by reducing storm overflows during periods of prolonged or heavy rain. The six projects include: Approximately 18,250m3 of additional storage will be added to the network to slow the flow
Knights Brown has been awarded the contract to build Cardiff’s new coastal flood defence system in south-east Cardiff. The scheme, on the Rover Way foreshore and the banks of the River Rhymney, has been designed to protect properties from the impact of extreme weather events, and from rising sea levels
Leading infrastructure solutions company, Costain, has been awarded three assurance frameworks worth up to £7.15m by Yorkshire Water (YW). The contract is for an initial two-years, with the option to extend for a further two years. Costain, in joint venture with Arup, has successfully supported YW’s health and safety (H&S)
A project to repair and replace two sections of parallel rising mains will rehabilitate an important section of the East London sewer network and will deploy innovative offsite manufacturing to replace an existing discharge chamber. Thames Water has appointed civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale to carry out the £7.8 million programme adjacent to Gallions Reach Shopping Centre in Barking. The existing 800mm twin Store Road Rising Main runs from the Store Road Pumping Station (just north of the Woolwich ferry terminal) to an outfall that discharges into the Northern Outfall Sewer (NOS) near the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works inlet. Two sections of the twin mains will be rehabilitated: One section will require Barhale to replace the existing sewer with two lengths of 142m, 800mm diameter HDPE pipe which will be installed through open cut excavation. At the adjacent section, Barhale will repair a 220m length of each main using Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) relining. A temporary rider system will be deployed to isolate the works while allowing flows to be maintained. After the pipeline work is completed, a prefabricated GRP discharge chamber will be installed. Shane Gorman, Barhale’s Water Director – Southern Region, explained that the chamber design needed to take into consideration high levels of H2S and weight restrictions on the NOS structure. “We have moved away from a traditional concrete discharge chamber and instead will be demolishing the existing chamber to install a modular GRP unit,” he said. It has several benefits – it’s lighter, reduces H&S risk, decreases carbon in the manufacturing process, cuts down on installation time on site and provides increased longevity and resilience for the network. “These lengths of the mains actually date back to 1977 and they have come under increased pressure from development in the area so, alongside the rehabilitation work, we will also be conducting detailed CCTV surveying of a further 31m of the elevated bridge structure that discharges into the NOS to ensure that it is in satisfactory condition.” “We are also very mindful of the proximity of Gallions Reach Shopping Centre, so our plans set out to minimise disruption and to maintain access for businesses and shoppers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading capital infrastructure and engineering services company, Avove, has been awarded a multi-million-pound design and build framework agreement with Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) as part of NWG’s Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) £3.6 billion investment programme. The design and build framework, which commences in January 2024 for up to 12 years, covers the delivery of large capital investment programmes, including renewal, refurbishment and replacement for clean and wastewater networks and assets. Avove is one of 12 partners who are part of the Living Water Enterprise, the innovative vehicle developed to deliver large-scale construction programmes on behalf of NWG for AMP8. Avove’s Executive Chair, Mark Perkins, said: “We are delighted to have secured our place on Northumbrian Water Group’s framework for AMP8, which represents a significant contract win for Avove and aligns with our ambitious development plans. “During the tender process, it became clear that our strategic focus on being expert, agile and responsible aligned with the requirements of the Living Water Enterprise. Our delivery model is deeply rooted in our technical expertise, extensive experience, and commitment to service excellence across our entire business. We demonstrated that we are a collaborative provider of infrastructure services focusing on ESG, carbon reduction and innovative approaches to engineering, design and ways of working, whilst offering value for money.” With supply chain partners appointed, Avove will join NWG to form a highly integrated, collaborative delivery organisation which will play a key role in delivering NWG’s upcoming business plan commitments effectively and efficiently. This will consider the complete lifecycle of assets to ensure smarter spending and risk-based planning for the long term. Mark continued: “This is an exciting partnership, creating economic growth and opportunity in the region through a committed and thoughtful deployment of our design and construction expertise. We look forward to collaborating with Northumbrian Water Group and its partners as part of the Living Water Enterprise, driving the best value and capital solutions across the programme and delivering really positive social impacts.” Monisha Gower, Assets Director at Northumbrian Water Group, said: “The market has never been so competitive, when it comes to adding the best partners and people to our team in the run-up to AMP8. We have had to be agile and move fast, employing innovation throughout our procurement practices, and it has paid off, building our new stable of partners and creating the capacity we need for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. “Already this year, we have worked with those previously-appointed partners to start the important work of creating a strong culture, centred around collaboration, innovation, safety and wellbeing, all with a clear focus on solutions that work for customers and the environment. “We have brought on board some of the most capable and innovative partners in our sector, each of whom will bring their energy and passion with them for the journey ahead. These partnerships aren’t just going to build more resilient services for our customers, they will build reputations and careers along the way. “The level of integration that we will build with all of our partners requires a lot of work, and we are excited to get started.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Appointment adds to Costain’s wins in the new water regulatory cycle Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been appointed by Northumbrian Water (NWG) to help shape and deliver its strategic infrastructure upgrade programme. The framework will see contracts awarded with the potential value of up to £670m to Costain over the 12-year period and builds on significant recent wins in the water sector for the company. The framework contract will see Costain work with the water company and its partners to shape, create and deliver solutions to meet the strategic needs of NWG’s business plan during Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8). The contract starts immediately and will run for a seven-year initial term with an option for a further five-year extension. The framework is the Living Water Enterprise, the innovative vehicle developed to deliver NWG’s complex long cycle programmes in AMP8, comprising 12 partners and the water company. The work will involve: AMP8 will see the biggest investment in the water industry for decades. In 2023, Costain extended into AMP8 its Managed Service Provider contract with United Utilities and its consultancy work with Yorkshire Water. Costain has also won funding from Ofwat to support innovation projects. Alex Vaughan, CEO, Costain, said: “Costain is a leading business partner to the water industry, ensuring that water companies achieve value for money as they meet the needs of their customers and the regulator during this crucial period for water investment. We’re looking forward to supporting Northumbrian Water in this new working relationship, upgrading both its wastewater and water treatment infrastructure to improve people’s lives and safeguard the environment. At Costain, we develop solutions by building collaborative and sustainable relationships with our customers, and we’re excited to begin this vital work. “This contract win not only reflects our continued growth in the water sector, but it also reinforces our commitment to improving critical infrastructure in the North-East of England. This includes major upgrades to the region’s highways and our carbon capture work in Teesside as part of the East Coast Cluster, generating opportunities for regional suppliers and employment for local people.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The first pipes have been laid in a new 57km water pipeline, which will support supplies to more than 200,000 people across the North East. Northumbrian Water’s Project Pipeline: County Durham and the Tees Valley is a huge £155m investment in futureproofing the resilience and quality of water supply to customers. Phase 1 of the project, which will connect Lartington Water Treatment Works in Upper Teesdale with the town of Gainford and across to Shildon, County Durham, is being constructed by Northumbrian Water’s partners, Farrans Construction. The project will see the replacement of sections of the network that have served the area for more than 100 years, alongside new stretches of pipeline. Pipelaying started from Whorley reservoir and the teams are working in the directions of Lartington and Shildon. A second phase is currently being planned, with work scheduled to start in 2025, further connecting the pipeline on to Teesside at Long Newton. James Dawes, Project Manager, said: “This is one of the biggest ever investments in customers’ water supplies here in the North East. Following years of planning and preparation, to ensure we can deliver this project in the best way possible, it’s fantastic to see the first pipes in the ground. “There is still a long way to go, with Phase 1 scheduled to see us working into 2025, and Phase 2 for a further three years after that, but this is a huge milestone. “We will continue to work with Farrans Construction and our other partners, with local stakeholders, communities and customers, as we progress across the south of County Durham and into Teesside, on the road to putting this new pipeline, that will deliver benefits for 200,000 customers, into service.” Stephen Coates, Project Manager, Farrans Construction, said: “We have been on site for the last two months making final preparations ahead of the pipe work being laid so this is an exciting milestone for this project, our client and our team. The route of the pipeline will cross the River Tees and we are constructing a tunnel to carry the pipe 12m below the river bed, close to the villages of Lartington and Cotherstone in Teesdale. “This is an important project which will provide resilience in the water supply for many years to come. We look forward to continuing to support the local community through our social value programme and already we have worked with social enterprises, charities and taken part in the Cotherstone 5km run.”
Earth Change, a division of the Land & Water Group, alongside Project Seagrass and Swansea University Unveil Groundbreaking Automated Seagrass Planter, Revolutionising Large-Scale Seagrass Planting Land & Water, a leading environmental engineering company, and Project Seagrass, a renowned marine conservation organisation, are proud to announce the successful design, construction, and testing of an innovative Automated Seagrass Planter (ASP) patent pending. This groundbreaking technology promises to revolutionise the large-scale planting of seagrass, offering new hope for the restoration and preservation of these vital coastal ecosystems. “We are now convinced we can substantially scale up seagrass glade restoration using the automated planter, taking conventional planting (done with divers on an individual seedling basis) to sea-scape scale planting at 1000’s of plants per day” says James Maclean, CEO of Land & Water. Seagrass meadows play a crucial role in maintaining healthy marine environments, fostering biodiversity, and mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Globally, seagrass has the capability to capture carbon faster than tropical rainforests, accounting for 10 to 18% of total ocean carbon storage, despite covering less than 0.1% of the seafloor [source: Duarte et al., 2005b; Kennedy et al., 2010]. However, due to various human activities and natural disturbances, seagrass habitats have been rapidly declining worldwide. In the UK alone seagrass depletion since 1936 EXCEEDS 30% of the areas of previous colonisation. Recognizing the urgency to restore these critical ecosystems, Land & Water partnered with Project Seagrass and Swansea University to develop a cutting-edge solution. The Automated Seagrass Planter developed by this dynamic collaboration represents a significant breakthrough in seagrass restoration efforts, aligning the use of biodegradable seedpods/hessian sacks developed by Project Seagrass with the installation innovation from Land & Water. This innovative device streamlines and automates the process of seagrass planting, making large-scale restoration projects more efficient and achievable than ever before. Key features and benefits of the Automated Seagrass Planter include: The successful testing of the Automated Seagrass Planter has yielded promising planting results, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing seagrass restoration efforts. By enabling the rapid planting of seagrass at scale, this technology has the potential to rejuvenate degraded habitats, enhance coastal resilience, promote marine biodiversity, and provide substantial new habitats for carbon sequestration. Trial planting regimes will be subject to ongoing monitoring by Project Seagrass to validate the effectiveness of the new planting regime. “We are excited by the planting results, and we must now see how this method of planting works in Dale” says Richard Unsworth, Associate Professor Swansea University. Earth Change and Project Seagrass are committed to collaborating with governments, environmental agencies, research institutions, and coastal communities to deploy the Automated Seagrass Planter in large-scale restoration initiatives worldwide. Through these partnerships, they aim to create a positive and lasting impact on the health and sustainability of our marine ecosystems. About Land & Water Land & Water Group is an environmental engineering company specializing in waterway maintenance, dredging, and ecological restoration. With a deep commitment to sustainability, Land & Water provides innovative solutions for preserving and enhancing natural habitats and promoting environmental stewardship. About Project Seagrass Project Seagrass is a leading marine conservation organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of seagrass ecosystems. Through community, research and action, Project Seagrass strives to raise awareness about the importance of seagrass and work towards its protection for future generations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yorkshire Water has selected BarhaleEnpure Joint Venture for an £18M project to upgrade Phosphorous removal and flow monitoring at its Dewsbury Wastewater Treatment Works. On completion, the works will ensure Phosphorus concentrations in the final effluent meet water industry national environment programme (WINEP) targets for England. The installation of a UMON4 device will also upgrade monitoring to MCERTS (monitoring certification scheme) standards and will confirm that the treatment works is treating permitted flow to full treatment (2,350 litres per second) when the storm overflow is operating. Central to the scheme is the transformation of the primary treatment capabilities through the replacement of a number of the 14 existing Primary Settlement Tanks (PSTs) with three new, larger tanks and two new primary sludge pumping stations. The project will take advantage of off-site manufacturing to pre-cast the concrete wall sections before they are assembled on site to form the new 8.5m deep (deepest at the central de-sludge cone), 45 metre diameter settlement tanks. An existing beck will be diverted to make way for the construction of the tanks. BarhaleEnpure Joint Venture will convert one of the existing PSTs into a primary distribution chamber that will distribute flow to the new tanks. It will also install a new chemical dosing plant comprising two 40m3 storage tanks and dosing equipment housed in a new DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) steel-framed building manufactured off-site. An existing inlet channel will be modified to include the UMON4 inlet flume. Mark Wood, Barhale’s Regional Director for Yorkshire and North East England, believes the Dewsbury contract will make an important contribution to the portfolio of projects taking place within the region, guaranteeing water quality in Yorkshire. “Effective management of Phosphorous levels can make a big difference to the quality of water in our rivers and streams,” he said. “This is a major upgrade for the Dewsbury Wastewater Treatment Works which reflects Yorkshire Water’s ambitions for P-removal across its assets and its commitment to meet new standards. This is just one of the many projects being undertaken to improve water quality in the Yorkshire area. “By using off-site manufacturing techniques for several important elements and reusing existing assets, the build programme will also benefit from reduced carbon impact and time on site. “At BarhaleEnpure Joint Venture, we are looking forward to continuing to work closely with the Yorkshire Water team to deliver this important project for the region.” Steve Milling, BarhaleEnpure JV Framework Manager said: “The award of this design and construct contract follows a prolonged Early Contractor Involvement phase of more than two years. Through this period, the BarhaleEnpure JV design team worked closely with Yorkshire Water and Stantec to refine the outline design and introduce significant value engineering changes. “We look forward to delivering a cost efficient plant design which, when commissioned, will be well able to meet the new Phosphorus standard.” Richard Stuart, Director of Capital Delivery, at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to looking at innovative ways to improve the operation of our sites. This project will make use of a range of measures designed to reduce carbon impact and speed up the length of the works. “Not only does this provide significant benefits to us and our customers for a cost saving point of view, the work will ultimately lead to improved water quality by removing Phosphorus from treated effluent and provide improved monitoring at the site to ensure compliance.” The project forms part of Yorkshire Water’s £500 million investment in Phosphorous removal – part of its ongoing commitment to ensure future facilities meet current and anticipated Environment Agency quality targets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Thames Water has awarded civil engineering and infrastructure specialist Barhale a £16.8M contract to upgrade an important water trunk main running through the London Boroughs of Barnet and Enfield. The work, which forms part of Thames Water’s AMP7 Conditional Allowance Trunk Main Schemes, will protect future water supply in the area. Just over 2.3 kilometres of pipe will be replaced by Barhale along a new route running north west from Pert Close, Barnet to the southern end of Cannon Hill, Enfield. The new pipeline will be laid through the Friern Barnet retail park, and within: Station Road; Inverforth Road; Upper Park Road; Palmers Road; Bowes Road; Brookdale; Arnos Park; and Arnos Grove. Sections of the route will be tunnelled beneath the A406 North Circular Road, the East Coast Main Line and Pymmes Brook, eliminating disruption at these critical infrastructure crossings. Barhale will replace the existing 24” steel pipe with a combination of ductile iron or steel and high-density polyethylene pipe laid using open cut trenches and micro-tunnelling. Shafts will be excavated either side of each tunnel section to serve as launch and reception chambers for the tunnelling works, which will make up 250 metres of the total length. Shane Gorman, Barhale’s Water Director – Southern Region, said: “Now is this right time to upgrade this aging main pipe. Installing a new trunk main will ensure this section of the water network is in optimum condition for the future. “This is a significant mains upgrade programme in a busy part of London and we have worked closely with Thames Water to ensure that the design maximises value while minimising potential disruption.” The works are expected to be completed by December 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yorkshire Water is investing £36m in six projects in west Leeds and Bradford to improve water quality within Pudsey Beck by reducing storm overflows during periods of prolonged or heavy rain. The six projects include: Approximately 18,250m3 of additional storage will be added to the network to slow the flow of heavy or prolonged rainfall, which modelling indicates will reduce the number of storm discharges into Pudsey Beck by more than 20%. The new integrated constructed wetland at Hough Side will accommodate a minimum 25,000m3 of diluted wastewater from heavy or prolonged rainfall events and will take approximately three years to construct. Plants in a series of cells will treat the diluted wastewater as it travels through the wetland via gravity. Pollutants and nutrients will be naturally broken down and taken up by the plants and bacteria within the wetland. The wastewater will not include solid waste. Once established, the wetland will also provide a biodiversity net gain and improve the area for local wildlife. Richard Stuart, director of capital delivery at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are committed to improving water quality in the rivers across our region. One of the key focuses is reducing storm overflows to make a real difference to water quality in our rivers. “This project is a significant investment in the west Leeds and Bradford areas to improve water quality within Pudsey Beck. The additional storage and wetland we are building into the network will reduce the number of storm overflows significantly into the watercourse and is just part of a £568m capital investment we are making across Yorkshire this year alone. “While work is being conducted in the area, there may be some traffic disruption and we are working closely with local authority highways departments to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. “We know that there is more to be done to tackle storm overflows. We are already working on our largest ever environmental investment as part of our 2025-2030 business plan. The plans, which will be subject to approval by our regulator Ofwat, outline a £1 billion investment to further reduce discharges from overflows to meet the government’s storm overflow reduction plan, including the requirement for coastal bathing waters of an average of two spills per bathing water season by 2035.” The project is a collaboration between Yorkshire Water, Stantec, Kier, Arup, WSP, Mott MacDonald Bentley, Peter Duffy Limited, Galliford Try, Barhale, Tilbury Douglas, Leeds City Council and Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
Knights Brown has been awarded the contract to build Cardiff’s new coastal flood defence system in south-east Cardiff. The scheme, on the Rover Way foreshore and the banks of the River Rhymney, has been designed to protect properties from the impact of extreme weather events, and from rising sea levels for the next 100 years. The scheme adheres to Cardiff Council’s adopted shoreline management plan of “hold the line” and has been approved by The Welsh Government via the coastal risk management programme. Now this process is complete with the contract awarded, work is expected to start on site later this year and will take approximately 3 years to complete. The total cost of the project is expected to be in the region of £35 million, with the majority of funding provided by Welsh Government. When built, the scheme will deliver: And it will: The scheme will deliver an effective flood defence while minimising impact on wildlife and improving the walking route forming part of the Wales Coastal Path, which links to existing public rights of way. Cllr Caro Wild, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change has welcomed the progress of the scheme, and said: “Cardiff is already starting to feel the effects of our changing climate and as a coastal city flooding has become an increasingly significant risk as sea levels rise and extreme weather events become more frequent. “Enhancing our coastal flood defences is a key priority, especially in areas where residential properties are potentially at risk. “Through our One Planet Cardiff strategy, we’re making good process on reducing the Council’s own carbon emissions, ensuring we’re playing our part in limiting global temperature rises, but proactive steps like this scheme on the foreshore and River Rhymney, are also essential if we are to ensure Cardiff is resilient enough to cope in years to come.” The One Planet Cardiff strategy sets out a range of ways in which Cardiff is moving towards being carbon neutral, including: reducing energy consumption and energy efficiency in council buildings, increasing the supply of renewable energy, shifting to more sustainable and active modes of transport, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from purchased goods and services, making smarter choices to waste less and recycle more, and increasing opportunities to absorb emissions through green infrastructure and tree planting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading infrastructure solutions company, Costain, has been awarded three assurance frameworks worth up to £7.15m by Yorkshire Water (YW). The contract is for an initial two-years, with the option to extend for a further two years. Costain, in joint venture with Arup, has successfully supported YW’s health and safety (H&S) assurance needs through a consultancy framework since 2019. From July 2023, the new award will see environmental and technical assurance frameworks added to the H&S remit. The frameworks, which run from 2023 to 2025, will see the JV provide project and programme management services, end to end quality and risk services, process safety management and environmental, sustainability and ecology services. The assurance frameworks will be implemented across YW’s catchment area and will cover Technical, Health & Safety and Environmental works, building on the service already delivered in AMP7. Gerard Shore, water sector director at Costain commented, “We successfully delivered vital health and safety assurance work for Yorkshire Water across 23 capital delivery partners last year, and we’re delighted by the vote of confidence shown by Yorkshire Water in extending our remit. We’ll use our in-depth knowledge and expertise to help Yorkshire Water meet its needs and continue to deliver exceptional service to its customers.” Richard Jelfs, contractor HSE manager at Yorkshire Water, said, “We are delighted to continue to work closely with Costain-Arup as we assure against our existing and develop new health, safety and environmental standards and controls within Capital Delivery.” Catherine Wenger, UKIMEA Water Business Leader, Arup added, “We are pleased to be able to continue our longstanding assurance partnership with Costain and Yorkshire Water into Amp8 sharing national and global best practice.” Yorkshire Water manages the collection, treatment, distribution and disposal of water in Yorkshire. It supplies around 1.24 billion litres of drinking water each day as well as disposing of approximately one billion litres of wastewater safely back into the environment.
