HS2 seeks construction teams for new station

HS2 has launched its search for the construction teams for the new station at Curzon Street, in Birmingham.

With ground works contractors already on site, preparing the ground where the new concept station will be built, the finished station will put Birmingham firmly at the heart of the HS2 network.

The arrival of HS2 in 2026 is expected to help transform the city centre and unlock up to 36,000 jobs and 4,000 new homes across Birmingham.

Designs for the station have been developed by WSP, working with Grimshaw Architects and Glenn Howells, and include a huge arched roof inspired by the city’s transport and industrial heritage. The layout places people at the heart of the design, offering seamless connections to the local metro, rail and bus network, giving easy access to the wider region.

Work is also underway to restore and reopen the original Curzon Street Station building, the only surviving part of the original 1838 station, as a visitor and heritage centre.

Welcoming the start of the contest, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, Mark Thurston, said: “HS2 is already unlocking new opportunities to create skilled jobs across the West Midlands and, over the next decade, the winner of the Curzon Street contract will go on to build one of the most exciting and high profile elements of the project.

“We’re looking for the best the construction industry has to offer. Companies that share our commitment to safety, good design, environmental protection and value for money. Together we will deliver an iconic new gateway to Birmingham – a building the city, the wider region and the travelling public can be proud to call their own.”

HS2 Minister, Nusrat Ghani, said: “Birmingham is central to HS2, and the transformation that is already taking place shows exactly how our new high-speed railway will drive forward regeneration and economic growth across the country.

“Curzon Street station will be the perfect gateway to Birmingham and will live long in the memories of visitors, boosting business and tourism in the city.”

Dawn Karakatsanis, Director of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Midlands), said: “The start of the procurement process for a new station at Birmingham Curzon Street is a fantastic opportunity for industry and a boon for the entire region.

“CECA believes HS2 will be fundamental to the rebalancing of the economy and will drive growth, create jobs, and be transformational in closing the capacity gap on the UK’s railways.

“HS2 will be central to the diverse portfolio of transport infrastructure the UK will rely upon in coming years, and the initiation of procurement for a new station at Birmingham Curzon Street should be seen as a major milestone towards the delivery of this once-in-a-generation project.”

Bidders are expected to be shortlisted in the spring, with contracts awarded in 2020. Separate construction contracts for Birmingham Interchange will follow next year.

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Environment Agency launches Thames lock improvement programme

The Environment Agency has launched a £2.1M programme of improvements to River Thames locks, as part of its annual winter programme of infrastructure investment.

The work will support recreational and commercial boating along 135-mile stretch of the River Thames.

Major projects will be carried out at five of the 45 lock sites it owns and operates from Cricklade in Wiltshire to Teddington in Middlesex – but all sites will benefit from some level of investment.

Barry Russell, River Thames Waterways Manager, at the Environment Agency, said: “This year’s £2.1M programme of work is one of the most extensive for some time.

“The work our specialist navigation engineers, craftsmen and contractors will carry out is absolutely vital. It will directly support both recreational and commercial boating on the Thames, and indirectly support the many thousands of businesses along the river sustained by the spending power of our boating customers. That’s not just marinas, boat yards and chandleries, but shops, hotels, restaurants, pubs, visitor attractions and so on.”

Major schemes covered under the programme include; the refurbishment of the concrete-lined chamber of the launch locks at Teddington Lock, Middlesex and Caversham Lock, Reading; fabricating four brand new gates for Day’s Lock, Little Wittenham, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire; replacing the facing timber and balance beams on all four lock gates at Rushey Lock, Buckland Marsh; and replacing the facing timber on all four lock gates at Molesey Lock, East Molesey.

Additional works include refurbishing the concrete sill underneath the tail gates at Cookham Lock near Maidenhead in Berkshire, structural surveys of the lock chambers at King’s Lock near Wolvercote in Oxfordshire and Whitchurch Lock near Reading in Berkshire. The agency is also refurbishing mooring facilities at Blake’s Lock in Reading.

Other work being carried out as part of this year’s programme includes upgrading lock control systems; repairs to numerous towpath bridges; bank protection works at a number of locations; improved site-security systems and a survey of all lock offices to check on their condition and identify where improvements could be made to improve staff welfare and facilitate greater commercial activity.

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC 30th April 2019 : UKIS 2019

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HSE warns construction firms after worker falls from height

The HSE has reminded construction companies of the dangers presented to employees working at height after a construction company was fined after an incident at one of its sites.

Croudace Homes Limited has been fined after an employee fell through a plasterboard ceiling onto a staircase below at a site in Basingstoke.

At a recent hearing, the court heard how an employee was working in a loft space when he fell through a plasterboard ceiling onto the staircase below. He sustained a punctured lung, six fractured ribs, a fractured vertebra and a fractured shoulder.

The HSE carried out an investigation and found that there was poor planning of the pre-plaster work and a lack of understanding of the risks associated with working at height in the loft without adequate fragile surface protection.

Croudace Homes Limited of, Croudace House, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6XQ, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulation 2005 and was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £5,355.

HSE Inspector Sharron Cripps said: “Falls from height remain the most common cause of work-related fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry and the risks associated with working at height are well-known.

“Working on or near fragile materials at height can be particularly dangerous and it is very important that those in control of the work identify the risk, plan to eliminate it if possible, or where it is not possible, take appropriate precautions to safeguard workers and others. Good management will also include regular monitoring that the controls in place are keeping people safe.”

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Network Rail partners with Innovate UK

Network Rail is partnering with Innovate UK in a bid to see new ideas, greater efficiencies and more investment in the railway.

The news comes as the railway infrastructure company says it is transforming, and increasingly opening up to new ideas that bring value for money and innovation. The partnership illustrates Network Rail’s commitment to breaking down barriers to entry, making it easier for other organisations to invest in and build on the railway, brought about by  Hansford Review.

To mark the new partnership, Innovate UK and Network Rail have opened a competition for UK businesses to win a share of up to £300,000 for projects that develop and demonstrate tools to automatically plan rail infrastructure, helping deliver the Whole System Modelling agenda to put performance at the heart of planning.

By working with Innovate UK, Network Rail will make it easier for other organisations – especially those not familiar with working in the railway sector – to get a foot in the door where they have not been able to before. This relationship could result in increased efficiency and reduced cost for the taxpayer-funded organisation by tapping into new suppliers as well as help UK based companies develop new products and services to export.

The competition: planning rail capacity through automated infrastructure design.

Network Rail is seeking to stimulate development in the automated design domain. 2018 saw this area take off commercially for mechanical products; entrepreneurs and technologists are now looking for other applications. The company’s ambition is to put rail in the mainstream of this domain by promoting it as the case study for use in the broader infrastructure, urban and transport planning sectors.

The collaborative research and development competition has been funded and implemented by Network Rail’s Whole System Modelling programme. The intent of this competition is to encourage the development of solutions in automated design tools where they will be market-ready in the next two to five years, and to demonstrate an open innovation procurement approach that harnesses the power of the market.

Automated design enables engineers to automatically explore a wide design space and identify the best design options quickly and in a cost-effective manner. The competition encourages the development of products and services that enable rapid automatic design of rail infrastructure. Applicants are being asked to develop solutions relevant to rail that apply automated design to track layout, overhead line electrification, traction power supply systems, and signalling systems. The competition is now open until 19 December 2018.

Ben Ford, Network Rail’s innovation lead for whole system modelling said: “We want this partnership to help us be smarter in buying technology; it will help us bring new talent to bear on our problems, and even more it creates commercial benefits. Entrepreneurial companies will invest their own capital in developing solutions and produce commercially competitive products which they will maintain and export. And when they do that they create more UK tax revenue, some of which supports the railway, so we win all round, and the public win all round. It really is a better railway, for a better Britain”

Simon Edmonds, deputy executive chair and director – manufacturing, materials and mobility, Innovate UK said: “We’re launching this first competition with Network Rail to encourage people and businesses to apply with ideas to develop tools to help plan future infrastructure requirements. This is just the start; we want to help the railway and to help Network Rail. And we want to help the UK economy. Aligned with the government’s modern industrial strategy, our purpose is to drive growth by working with companies to de-risk, enable and support innovation.

“Our message to applicants is that we’re here to help you get a foot in the door – especially if you’ve not worked in the railway sector before. We look forward to find and drive science and technology that delivers a better railway for a better Britain.”

If you are interested in finding out more about key infrastructure trends today, you may wish to attend the flagship infrastructure exhibition at the NEC in April 2019 : UKIS 2019

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Construction of Princes Quay Bridge, Hull now underway

Construction of Princes Quay Bridge in Hull, which will one day shape development across the city, is officially underway.

Princes Quay Bridge is being built to link the city’s marina to the southern end of Princes Dock. Crucially, the bridge will significantly improve access, making it easier for pedestrians, cyclists and disabled users to cross the A63.

The £12M Highways England scheme is being part funded by the Humber LEP Local Growth Fund programme, which secured £4M through growth deals with the government and as part of an ongoing Northern Powerhouse commitment. The construction phase was officially kicked-off by Lord Haskins during an event held at the marina site.

According to Highways England Senior Project Manager, James Leeming: “This start of work is great news and a milestone we have been working towards for some time. The bridge will provide easy access across the A63, helping link communities, shops and business. The bridge has been designed to allow further development around the waterfront and is an important part of Hull’s plans for the future.”

Councillor Daren Hale, who is portfolio holder for economic investment and regeneration in Hull, added: “Our city’s transformation is well underway, and continually improving Hull’s transport infrastructure to support sustainable economic growth is a huge priority for the council. As well as delivering improved air quality targets for this area of the city. The bridge will connect the heart of the city to its thriving waterfront and is a critical element of our long-term regeneration plan for Hull.”

 

Finally, Lord Haskins – Chair of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – concluded: “This link will improve safety when crossing the busy road, and will of course impact positively on future developments. I’m sure that this will prove to be a fantastic addition to the city’s infrastructure, and I am pleased that this project is being delivered with support through the LEP’s Growth Deal programme. It is an important step towards the wider A63 Castle Street upgrade, which we look forward to seeing proceed.”

Nearby, work has recently begun on the A63 at Roger Millward Way, which will add an additional lane through the centre of the roundabout and install traffic signals to reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic. The £6M improvement programme is being funded as part of a nationwide £220M Congestion Relief Fund, announced by the government last year to help tackle congestion at key locations.

Work on Roger Millward Way is expected to take around nine months to complete, while Princes Quay Bridge is expected to finish in early 2020. Both schemes are being carried out together under a single contractor to minimise disruption and make the best use of available funds. The schemes will complete in advance of the major A63 Castle Street project which will improve access to the port and city centre and is due to begin in 2020.

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State-of-the-art King’s School development begins on-site

Work has begun on a brand new state-of-the-art facility at King’s School in Macclesfield – one of the UK’s biggest independent day schools.

It is thought that the 80-acre Derby Fields development, which forms part of a wider programme of works at King’s School worth around £60M, will complete in May 2020. Three sites are to be co-located at a single location, creating a new 16,000 square metre academic building with 350 rooms, in addition to a brand new sports centre which will include: a six lane, 25 metre swimming pool; a six-court sports hall and a dedicated indoor cricket centre. Outdoors, five new rugby pitches, one rounders field, two AstroTurf hockey pitches and six netball courts will also be created.

According to Natalie Clemson, Associate Director at Pick Everard and the project’s design and engineering consultant: “As well as including fantastic educational and sporting facilities, the new building will be highly energy efficient and sustainable with a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’. It will also score highly on environmental management, responsible construction, resource efficiency, low energy and water use with a reduced carbon footprint, as well as efficient heating and lighting systems and controls, among other sustainable features.”

The new development is the single most ambitious project in the school’s 516-year history. It will supplement, and sit beside, the school’s existing Derby Fields campus. Crucially, the project has been funded through the school’s selling of land at Fence Avenue and Cumberland Street to housing developers. The move will provide sustainable and affordable homes in the area alongside retirement and assisted living options.

“The school selling its existing sites to fund the project has freed up valuable land in the town centre for housing,” added Natalie, “which in turn will address the town’s need for additional housing and provide significant economic growth. We also worked with the school to deliver a series of value engineering workshops, which contributed savings of up £6M, as well as providing design solutions to maximise teaching space while meeting the client’s budget.”

John Kennerley, Chair of Governors at King’s School concluded: “We are delighted to be able to launch our 2020 vision for King’s. It will deliver not just a fantastic campus for our pupils, but enable us to develop further community use of the school beyond the 27 organisations that already share our facilities.”

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Class action launched against truck pricing fraud

London’s leading class action law firm Edwin Coe LLP has filed a group action seeking damages for businesses being direct and indirect purchasers of trucks and who were victims of fraudulent price fixing by major truck manufacturers over a 14-year period.

Edwin Coe is calling on any business which purchased, leased or outsourced trucks weighing six tonnes or more between 1997 and 2012 to join the lawsuit, which will sit in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

Well-known high street names, a supermarket retailer and a range of major regional brewers, are already amongst the claimants joining the litigation. They are seeking damages (plus interest) for medium or heavy goods vehicles purchased during the so-called infringement period of 14 years.

Edwin Coe is now encouraging additional businesses in the retail, construction, farming, waste-management and outsourcing sectors to sign up, as it is likely they also overpaid for their vehicles.

The claim stems from a European Commission ruling in 2016 against five truck manufacturers – MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler/Mercedes, Iveco and DAF – which found they operated a price fixing cartel stretching back to 1997. There has since been a similar finding against a sixth manufacturer, Scania. Together these manufacturers hold over 80% of the market.

It is estimated that some ten million trucks were sold across the EU during the 1997-2011 period and that each one may have been overpriced by up to £10,000 as a result of the cartel.

Claims may also be brought by those who purchased trucks from other manufacturers because their prices are also likely to have been affected by the cartel pricing.

Zahira Hussain of Edwin Coe LLP, solicitor to the Claimants, comments: “This cartel was an EU-wide scandal for many years and affected thousands of UK businesses from PLCs to smaller enterprises. Companies that believe they were a victim and want to claim their rightful compensation need to act fast. There is still a window to join our claim process on a cost and risk-free basis.”

The Road Haulage Association has a separate legal action underway for its members.

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