GRAHAM has secured a “Building Repairs and Maintenance and Minor Works” contract with Worcester City Council. The leading contractor will deliver reactive maintenance, planned maintenance, minor works projects and out of hours emergency works over an initial five year term, with the potential for a further two-year extension. Worcester City
Supported and third sector businesses operating throughout Scotland are being invited to meet up with some of the country’s biggest building contractors to explore the possibilities for joining the sector’s supply chain. The hub South West partnership is hosting its third annual Hidden Gems supplier showcase as part of its
A major project described as Stockport’s single most important strategic highway connection has been completed by GRAHAM. The £8m Travis Brow Link Road creates a vital link between the A6 and M60 in Stockport town centre. It’s part of Stockport Council’s £73m Town Centre Access Plan, which will improve access
GRAHAM is pleased to announce completion of the new £5.6m Portrush Train Station. The station will be officially opened on 25th June 2019 by Translink. The new station comprises upgrading of the three platforms, with GRAHAM extending the permanent way for Platforms 1 and 2 at the existing station. The
Highways England has awarded contractor GRAHAM a major new package of works covering maintenance and improvements in the East of England as part of its Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF). The Highways England OD East Packages P&Q, valued at almost £25 million, comprise 84 maintenance and improvement work programmes including multiple
GRAHAM is celebrating the huge success of being named on all three lots of the North West Construction Hub’s (NWCH) new High Value Framework. Aiming to improve efficiencies, the framework will see contractors deliver construction projects in markets including education, health, retail and leisure. “We have strategically developed the GRAHAM business
The development contract for Wolverhampton’s new modern office space, i9, has been secured by GRAHAM. The development will provide 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, designed by Glenn Howells Architects. “The appointment of GRAHAM offers the next step towards this much anticipated state of the art, Grade A office
GRAHAM has been appointed by Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) to construct a new shielded Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) Drum Store Extension and an Unshielded Waste Store Extension for shielded waste containers next to the existing Dounreay Cementation Plant (DCP) complex. Valued in excess of £22m, the complex works programme
GRAHAM’s rail teams worked around the clock over the Bank Holiday weekend to deliver crucial upgrades to South East London’s rail network. The essential bridge replacements and supplementary works took place under abnormal track possessions at Bellenden Road Underbridge (Southwark) and Westdown Road Underbridge (Lewisham). Both projects involved the replacement
GRAHAM has revealed that they will be exhibiting at the Highways UK Exhibition as a part of their continued growth plans in the highways sector. The company will be attending the exhibition which will be taking place on the 8th and 9th November at the NEC in Birmingham. Highways UK
GRAHAM has secured a “Building Repairs and Maintenance and Minor Works” contract with Worcester City Council. The leading contractor will deliver reactive maintenance, planned maintenance, minor works projects and out of hours emergency works over an initial five year term, with the potential for a further two-year extension. Worcester City is the county town of Worcestershire and covers an area of circa 33 square kilometres. It is situated in the West Midlands, approximately 17 miles southwest of Birmingham. Commencing on April 1st, 2020, GRAHAM will be responsible for over 70 properties and sites within the Council’s local government boundaries, ranging from public buildings and associated structures, to depots, offices, community centres, historic parks, allotments and communal areas. The buildings include the Grade I listed Guildhall, dating back to 1721, and the Museum and Art Gallery, which was established in 1833. The measured term partnership with Worcester City Council will be managed from the newly opened GRAHAM office in Wythall, bordering Solihull and Birmingham. Commenting on the contract award, GRAHAM Operations Director, Gareth Smyth, said: “This latest success is another important milestone for GRAHAM in the Midlands and reflects our quality delivery, professionalism and expertise in the area. Worcester is a beautiful cathedral and university city with a suite of historic buildings.” “We look forward to bringing our collaborative approach to facilities management to Worcester City Council in support of the local community and over 100,000 residents.”
Supported and third sector businesses operating throughout Scotland are being invited to meet up with some of the country’s biggest building contractors to explore the possibilities for joining the sector’s supply chain. The hub South West partnership is hosting its third annual Hidden Gems supplier showcase as part of its on-going commitment to an inclusive supply chain offering opportunities to local businesses and organisations throughout the area. This year’s event is being held in partnership with hub West, the development partnership established in April 2012 covering the west of Scotland. Featuring 10 organisations with the potential to sell their products and services into the sector, the supplier showcase will be held on Tuesday September 24 at The Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) in Glasgow’s Edgefauld Avenue. From its roots as a supported factory for the visually impaired, the RSBi has grown into one of the country’s leading examples of social enterprise, combining commercial success with socially responsible practices. It is committed to providing opportunities to people with disabilities, as well as helping towards the economic regeneration of the local community and beyond. Wholly owned by Glasgow City Council as part of its City Building limited liability partnership, RSBi is credited as the largest supported business in Europe. It manufactures a wide range of products including kitchens, office and educational furniture, beds and soft furnishings, timber building kits, metal products and storage solutions. “The RSBi is a fantastic example of a business from which the whole of society profits, and is therefore the perfect location for this year’s Hidden Gems event,” hub South West chief executive Michael McBrearty said. “There are many such organisations throughout Scotland providing much-needed employment and support for local people, and we want to showcase how they can benefit from contributing to the construction industry in general, and in particular to Scotland’s hub programme.” The hub South West partnership was established in 2012 to deliver value for money on public sector community-based infrastructure projects to generate growth in local economies across Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway. It is currently processing a general pipeline of £1.1bn of works. Hidden Gems forms part of the regular series of workshops organised by hub Club, the networking initiative of hub South West aimed at engaging local businesses and encouraging them to share their experiences. Events from hub Club are open to all members and aspiring members of hub South West’s Territory Supplier Network. Tier 1 contractors represented on the day at Hidden Gems will include Interserve, Kier, Morrisons, Graham, Morgan Sindall, BAM, CCG and Linear Design & Construct. Registration begins at 2pm and places can be booked here.
A major project described as Stockport’s single most important strategic highway connection has been completed by GRAHAM. The £8m Travis Brow Link Road creates a vital link between the A6 and M60 in Stockport town centre. It’s part of Stockport Council’s £73m Town Centre Access Plan, which will improve access into and around the centre, by easing congestion and improving transport links. GRAHAM’S work has been recognised, with the scheme named ‘Project of the Year’ at the 2019 Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) North West Awards. Leo Martin, Executive Director at GRAHAM, said: “This has been a really successful project and our teams have worked incredibly hard on a scheme which benefits millions of people who will use this link road. “It forms a key part of an extensive access plan for Stockport town centre. High-levels of expertise were required in order to complete the work – especially when you take into consideration the Grade II listed viaduct and tunnel. “Our work has been praised for meeting the key objectives of achieving best value, minimising disruption and efficient delivery.” GRAHAM was appointed through the Highways England CDF Lot 2 Framework. The project didn’t come without its challenges, with innovation required to support the exposed rock face beneath the Viaduct foundations, whilst also restricting movements to negligible level during the construction phase. Pre-stressed rock anchors were utilised with a near vertical hard shotcrete facing. The retaining structure was then covered in mass concrete, to protect against vehicle impact and corrosion. Output and benefits Impact: Our collaborative design and construction effort reduced the overall project costs for SMBC, while providing a visually improved overall landscaped scheme. Bridge strikes: Our work has helped to reduce bridge strikes on George’s Road where regular strikes had previously caused significant disruption to the road and rail networks. Segregated pedestrian and cycle lanes: These have created an important east-west local sustainable transport link north of the town centre. Engineering fill: 10,000 tonnes of excavated brickwork were recycled by crushing and turned into engineered fill for the construction of the embankments and temporary works piling. Collaboration: Our construction methodology was designed to enable a key road (providing access to B&Q and Decathlon) to be opened at weekends in recognition of busy retail trading.
GRAHAM is pleased to announce completion of the new £5.6m Portrush Train Station. The station will be officially opened on 25th June 2019 by Translink. The new station comprises upgrading of the three platforms, with GRAHAM extending the permanent way for Platforms 1 and 2 at the existing station. The station now accommodates 6-car train sets to provide increased capacity. GRAHAM has installed modern facilities, providing enhanced passenger information and a new public address system. The new station also includes increased cycle storage space to encourage active travel and ‘greener’ tourism links. Funding for the station was secured from the Department for Communities (£4.7m) and Department for Infrastructure (£900k+). The new Portrush Train Station has been completed ahead of the 148th Open, Portrush, to be held in the town this July. The event is expected to attract around 190,000 visitors and offers a significant opportunity to sustainably develop the economy of Portrush town and the wider North Coast and will bring substantial benefits to the area in terms of visitor numbers, spend and investment. The new train station is one element of a wider £17m Portrush Regeneration Programme, led by the Department for Communities, which also includes a major public realm and revitalisation scheme for the town. The station is a contemporary design to complement the surrounding public realm works. Jonny Kerr, Contracts Director at GRAHAM, said: “We are very excited to be handing over the completed train station at Portrush to Translink and eagerly await the response from the travelling public to what is a gateway to the town and North Coast. “Portrush is one of Ireland’s most popular seaside resorts. The new station’s increased capacity will allow for further passenger and visitor growth as well as delivering wider economic benefits to the region. Jonny added: “I’d like to thank the project team and all of our partners for their hard work and collaborative approach in delivering this project safely and ahead of schedule and in time for the upcoming 148th Open taking place in the town. This is a proud achievement for GRAHAM and we look forward to seeing the lasting impact this project has for both residents and visitors of Portrush and the wider North Coast for many years to come.” Richard Knox, Translink’s Head of Rail Service Operations, said: “We are delighted to take possession of Portrush Train Station from our contractor, and we look forward to welcoming the public to make use of what is above all their facility. “As Translink continues our journey towards making public transport ‘your first choice for travel’ in Northern Ireland, investments like Portrush Train Station are of critical importance. We are proud of what Portrush Station has to offer the travelling public, and we’re certain that those passing through this summer will be impressed by what they encounter, from modern waiting facilities, improved passenger information and signage to local amenities and attractions, as well as enhanced cycle storage to promote more ‘active’ travel. “We’re looking forward to the official opening of the site later in June, which will mark a formal end to our work on the new station. To mark that event, we’ll be installing a time capsule on-site, complete with contributions from local organisations, to commemorate this eventful year in Portrush’s history, which won’t be completed until 2069. “Portrush Train Station provides a real sense of ‘place’ for the town and is a great gateway for the world to come and see what Portrush has to offer.”
Highways England has awarded contractor GRAHAM a major new package of works covering maintenance and improvements in the East of England as part of its Collaborative Delivery Framework (CDF). The Highways England OD East Packages P&Q, valued at almost £25 million, comprise 84 maintenance and improvement work programmes including multiple surfacing, drainage, signage, bridge projects and concrete road repairs across the Eastern region, including A1, A11, A14, M11, M1, A5, A12, A120 and A47 roads. The packages will be delivered collaboratively with design teams from AECOM and Mott MacDonald/Sweco supporting the works. Throughout the packages, GRAHAM will engage with local stakeholder groups and communities to establish strong and effective relationships and maintain clear lines of communication with road users during works. Rob Cook, Regional Director for GRAHAM, said: “We have worked with Highways England on its Collaborative Delivery Framework since 2017, and have delivered many successful improvements to Britain’s roads during this period. We’re delighted to have been awarded this latest package, which we will continue to deliver with the open and honest values that make GRAHAM such a respected partner in the highways industry. “The mobilisation of the P&Q packages represents the next steps in our ongoing relationship with Highways England and as part of their customer focus strategy we will be supporting and engaging with the local community throughout the programme of works, with several initiatives currently planned for rollout.” As an integral part of Highways England’s supply chain, one of GRAHAM’s strategic priorities, which is already bearing fruit and delivering lasting impact, is to continue developing this strong collaborative relationship. In 2017 GRAHAM delivered two major work packages on the CDF covering the A47, A11, A1 and A12 roads. The £19m contract consisted of multiple key safety improvements, surfacing, structures and technology schemes extending from Peterborough to Norwich, through to Lowestoft via Great Yarmouth.
GRAHAM is celebrating the huge success of being named on all three lots of the North West Construction Hub’s (NWCH) new High Value Framework. Aiming to improve efficiencies, the framework will see contractors deliver construction projects in markets including education, health, retail and leisure. “We have strategically developed the GRAHAM business in the North West of England, beginning with the opening of our Manchester office in Salford (2012) and more recently our Liverpool office (2018), and this award underlines our now established reputation in the region. It is a tremendous result and presents us with unique opportunities to deliver lasting impact right across the North West. As a business, we are focused on partnering with clients and procurement bodies who share our vision and values. Collaboration is central to NWCH and that fits perfectly into the GRAHAM approach whereby true collaboration is at the forefront of every relationship. Working in partnership allows us to engage locally, provide greater efficiency and generate better value for money and social value outcomes for our clients and partners. We look forward to undertaking our first projects with NWCH in 2019,” commented the firm’s Strategic Alliances and Frameworks Director, Patrick McDonald. Available to public sector bodies in the North West of England, the framework icovers Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria. The lots range in value from £8 million – £15 million (Lot 1), £15 million – £35 million (Lot 2) and £35 million+ (Lot 3). “It is very exciting to see some new names join our existing partners and there are already some interesting projects lined up with clients who have been eagerly awaiting this announcement,” added NWCH Framework Lead, Joanna Chomeniuk. GRAHAM will deliver ‘Design & Build’ or ‘Construct Only’ projects within each lot over a four-year term.
The development contract for Wolverhampton’s new modern office space, i9, has been secured by GRAHAM. The development will provide 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, designed by Glenn Howells Architects. “The appointment of GRAHAM offers the next step towards this much anticipated state of the art, Grade A office building for Wolverhampton. The i10 development has already proven that new occupiers are attracted to Wolverhampton and the state-of-the-art transport links of the Interchange will be a major attraction for those new occupiers,” said Steve Parry, managing director of Ion The scheme follows on from the success of the award-winning i10 complex on the opposite side of the road in the heart of the City of Wolverhampton Interchange. “Wolverhampton is undergoing a period of regeneration that is set to transform the city and attract further investment and jobs to the area. We are therefore pleased to have been appointed as the main contractor on the i9 – a significant new headquarters building that benefits from a prime location and high-spec office facilities. We look forward to working with the wider project team to deliver this new, sustainable commercial development for the city,” commented John Maguire, Regional Business Development Director for GRAHAM’s Birmingham office. Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, City of Wolverhampton Council added: “The appointment of GRAHAM means we can look forward to i9 emerging at the heart of the city’s Interchange in 2019. It is another step towards our aspirations of creating a Commercial District in this area of the city and we want this building to become the design and quality benchmark for future developments in the city and to demonstrate our ambition for the city centre. This important site ideally lends itself to a distinctive, high-quality headquarters building.” The i9 development is expected to be completed in 2020.
GRAHAM has been appointed by Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) to construct a new shielded Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) Drum Store Extension and an Unshielded Waste Store Extension for shielded waste containers next to the existing Dounreay Cementation Plant (DCP) complex. Valued in excess of £22m, the complex works programme on behalf of DSRL – the site license company contracted by Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) for the safe and secure clean up of the Dounreay nuclear site – begins later this month. Dounreay is Scotland’s largest nuclear decommissioning project and is widely recognised as one of Europe’s most challenging nuclear closure programmes. The site belongs to NDA, a non-departmental public body of the UK Government. The successful contract award follows a competitive tendering process involving several bidders, with the standstill period elapsing on Monday 24th September. The pre-construction phase is expected to take 25 weeks while construction is scheduled for a duration of 125 weeks. Continued transformation Commenting on the successful contract award Leo Martin, GRAHAM Managing Director – Civil Engineering, said: “Our knowledge of construction and delivery within a nuclear environment, combined with our experience in working with stringent safety systems, will ensure that we deliver assurance in the installation and validation of electrical and control equipment on site. “This is an important project on behalf of Dounreay Site Restoration Limited and will support the continued transformation of the Dounreay nuclear site into a safe, secure area. We have already established a strong partnership with Dounreay Site Restoration Limited, stretching back to early 2011, and will once again apply our collaborative approach and technical expertise to maximise the success of this project.” Long-term storage The project will see an existing above ground waste store extended to house intermediate level waste that is expected to be processed and packaged as part of the site’s clean up. Passively safe containers will be kept in long-term storage within the facility in accordance with Scottish Government policy. DSRL Construction Director, David Hubbard, said: “This contract represents an important step in the long-term management of the site’s waste. It is just one of several contracts being awarded to ensure we continue to reduce hazards and make progress towards the site’s interim end stage. The next few years will see us construct several new facilities to support the programme as well as starting to demolish a number of redundant structures.” Community development Around 100 people are expected to work on the project. GRAHAM is committed to a series of community development initiatives, including work placements and the recruitment of trainee positions. This is part of DSRL’s requirement for its supply chain partners to consider how they can support Caithness and North Sutherland’s socio-economic agenda. GRAHAM also plans to work with local training suppliers to develop its workforce involved in the project, particularly supporting some to achieve NVQ Level 2 and above qualifications. Nuclear expertise GRAHAM has a deep understanding of the Dounreay site and has already successfully completed a Grout Plant Facility and constructed two Low Level Waste Vaults involving the total excavation of 243,000m3 of rock. Demonstrating GRAHAM’s nuclear expertise further, it completed the regeneration of multiple, time-expired manufacturing and support facilities as part of an £80m Core Production Capability (CPC) Regeneration Project at Rolls Royce’s Nuclear Fuel Production Plant (NFPP) in Derby. In addition, GRAHAM is a strategic delivery partner of Low Level Waste Repository Limited (LLWR) as part of a four-year framework agreement, providing technical engineering, design and construction expertise at the UK’s national low level radioactive waste disposal facility in West Cumbria.
GRAHAM’s rail teams worked around the clock over the Bank Holiday weekend to deliver crucial upgrades to South East London’s rail network. The essential bridge replacements and supplementary works took place under abnormal track possessions at Bellenden Road Underbridge (Southwark) and Westdown Road Underbridge (Lewisham). Both projects involved the replacement and reinstatement of two underbridges within a restricted 72-hour rail possession. The railway closures began at 01:20 on Saturday 26th May and finished at 04:00 on Tuesday 29th May. The bridges carry National Rail, London Overground and Thameslink commuter services, as well as providing a busy thoroughfare for railway freight services. The works were part of Network Rail’s overall £78m investment in key asset maintenance and upgrades to more than 600 infrastructure schemes throughout the country. Successful completion Commenting on the successful completion of the bridge projects, Leo Martin, GRAHAM’s Managing Director – Civil Engineering, stated: “Both schemes underline the technical expertise of our staff and supply chain, and their ability to deliver complex rail projects safely and to the highest standards within possession constraints. “When working in these challenging rail conditions, safe and timely project delivery is only possible through close collaboration between ourselves, Network Rail, our supply chain partners and stakeholders. This was a real team effort and everyone pulled together to ensure the successful completion of these projects.” Works As part of the Bellenden Road Underbridge upgrade, the GRAHAM team replaced the existing 12m single span deck with two new Network Rail standard U decks, which were 66t each. The Westdown Road Underbridge project also centred on the replacement of the existing 12.5m bridge with two new Network Rail standard U decks, which were 74t each. It included the replacement of new station platforms. Both projects featured propping to restrain the existing abutments from potential overturning, the removal of tracks and ballast, the demolition of the existing bridge and the installation of the new superstructure decks. New pre-cast concrete cill slabs were placed at each location. Additionally, the reinstatement and re-tamping of the tracks were completed before reopening to rail traffic. Complexity The works involved setting up heavy lift cranes, including a 350t crawler crane and a 500t mobile crane, on the roadways below each bridge location in advance of the railway closures. The complexity of the works was made even more challenging by the severe weather conditions over the bank holiday weekend, with heavy thunder and lightning hampering crane lifts at critical times, and the team having to resolve a number of unforeseen issues as the project progressed. At its peak, over 100 people were on site to deliver each respective project. Meticulous planning GRAHAM’s rail experts have been meticulously preparing for the works over recent months in conjunction with a specialist supply chain, stakeholders, TOCs / FOCs and Network Rail. GRAHAM’s Rail Director, Jonny Kerr, believes this advanced planning and teamwork was the key to the success of both projects. “These complex bridge replacements were completed by our teams through their meticulous planning and technical expertise. The team worked closely with our various supply chain partners, stakeholders and Network Rail and their partners to ensure that there was minimal disruption to the rail network,” said Jonny. “There was a tremendous amount of planning done in advance, which allowed us to progress each project smoothly even with the challenges presented. Additional factors, such as operational High Voltage and S&T cable routes, required support and protection during the works.“ “It’s a tremendous achievement and I’m very grateful to everyone who rose to the challenge. “We would like to thank the public for their patience during the closures.” Rail expertise GRAHAM has completed a broad portfolio of award-winning work within the rail sector. Examples of GRAHAM’s expertise in delivering complex construction within an operational railway include the “Live Launch” of a 55m span, 515t bridge structure over ten railways lines in South London, slope stabilisation works in South Wales and the construction of a new railway station in the Midlands.
GRAHAM has revealed that they will be exhibiting at the Highways UK Exhibition as a part of their continued growth plans in the highways sector. The company will be attending the exhibition which will be taking place on the 8th and 9th November at the NEC in Birmingham. Highways UK has been set up for people and organisations that are involved in the planning, designing, build and operation of the UK’s expansive road network. The annual exhibition is definitively not a trade show, and has been created in order to attract and capture strategic planning and thought leadership and the cutting edge of development for the road infrastructure across the UK. GRAHAM has developed a strong civil engineering track record and has a history that dates back to the 18th century. The company has recently been carrying out work for Highways England, including a range of highways upgrades on the A47, A11, A1 and A12. The company has also managed to procure the Lot 2 Framework for the Great Howard Street bridge replacement scheme which is being carried out for Liverpool City Council. As part of the Highways UK Exhibition there is also a conference that will include industry briefing and network opportunities. The Exhibition is a proven and vibrant event that has been designed to combine the thought leadership, gain insight and the into the industry while also exchanging information with industry colleagues and offering a route to market for vendors. The Executive Director for GRAHAM, Leo Martin has said that the business is pleased to announce that they will be in attendance at this year’s Highways UK Exhibition, and will be using the event as a platform to show their expertise while also meeting and networking with industry peers. This event is one of the mainstays of the industry calendar and has come at a perfect time for GRAHAM, who are delivering a large portfolio of highways work. The company’s civil engineering team has been working on some of the most prestigious projects taking place in the UK and Ireland such as the Tennison Road Bridge Replacement for Network Rail and a number of others.
