First hydrogen mobile refueller by JCB
JCB have announced the invention of a prototype hydrogen mobile refueller tanker that works in a similar way to a diesel bowser.
The Derbyshire engine manufacturer is investing £100 million in hydrogen transition. It has 100 engineers working on the project and has already produced a backhoe loader and telescopic handler. These were produced in its Derbyshire plant.
Batteries are not practical for heavy machinery that works for 12 hours per day in remote locations as they are too heavy and take time to charge. Hydrogen is a viable solution for heavy plant and machinery.
New Crystal Palace Stadium
Croydon council has approved recent application for a new Crystal Palace stadium at Selhurst Park with a capacity of more than 34,000 which is more than 10,000 more than current capacity.
Plans were approved 4 years ago but work was delayed by COVID.
>1k new homes for Ealing
A £460m project to build 1,200 homes in Ealing has been approved. Friary Park Estate plans were approved years ago but new plans to build another 240 homes of which half are affordable have recently been approved.
The six acre development will include public realm landscaped green space, gardens and walking trails.
The first homes are expected to be available in 2023.
The redevelopment will see the old 1980s poorly designed estate replaced with new more spacious homes.
£300m Sussex highways for Balfour
Balfour Beatty has won a £300m contract to maintain highways and infrastructure from May 2023 including roads and drainage.
There is a 7 year option to renew with total contract value worth £730m.
Balfour Beatty will create a new control centre in the county to add to operational bases in Herefordshire and Southampton.
£74m Barnet highways maintenance contract out
Bridge over the M1 on Brockley Hill credit David Howard via geograph.org.uk
Deadline is 7 December for firms to apply for the highways maintenance contract that starts in April 2023 and runs for 4 years with a 2 year extension option.
The contract includes traffic management, drainage, roads and footpaths.
It is divided into 10 lots from £600,000 to £30m.
Winners will be announced on 11 January.
Reopening abandoned Scottish railway
Piling work has started to reopen Leavenmouth Rail Link that was originally built in 1854 but has been abandoned for the past 2 decades except for a freight train on the first mile from which serviced a coal mine. The first phase of the project from Thornton Junction will last for 3 weeks. Pile foundations hold the masts that carry the overhead electrical wires.
The £116m project will eventually re electrify the line to Leven as part of the Scottish Government’s plans to decarbonise passenger services by 2035.
Midgard appointed £8bn Brent Cross development
The £8bn Brent Cross redevelopment will include 50 acres of parks and playing fields, 6,700 new homes and 3m square feet of offices.
The project won £148m Homes England funding in 2020. Related Argent and Invesco are partnering to deliver 800 homes worth £600m. Contractor Midgard has been appointed to this scheme with work expected to start this year and complete in 2025.