Volker Fitzpatrick gets £59m Tame Valley viaduct
Volker Fitzpatrick have been awarded £59m to upgrade the Tame Valley viaduct by Birmingham City Council. The four and a half year project will start this month on the 620m long viaduct ‘Spaghetti junction’ which was built in the 1970s to reinforce the northern end with steel plates to improve safety and refurbish deteriorated parts. The viaduct carries 80,000 vehicles per day.
£600m Scotland civils framework
The Scottish Government is seeking suppliers for the Civil Engineering Works and Associated Services (including Roads and Roads Maintenance) Framework. A call for bids has been issued by Scottish Procurement calling for bids for part of the £600m civil engineering framework in Scotland to encompass projects for Government, schools, housing authorities, health boards, universities and other public bodies. There are three lots general and civil up to £25m and above.
They are hosting an online bidders day at 2:30pm on 14 July, register free here https://www.sdpscotland.co.uk/events/open-supplier-meeting-for-the-future-national-civil-engineering-framework-for-works-associated-services-including-roads-roads-maintenance-1380/
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£300m Teesside offshore wind factory goes ahead
Work will begin next month on a massive 40 metre tall factory on a 90 acre facility to manufacture offshore wind turbine monopiles in Teesside with construction manager K2 Consultancy, logistics Wilson James and others, funded by Korean steel manufacturer SeAH Wind. When complete the £300m project will be the largest offshore wind turbine factory in the world. The scheme will create 1,500 jobs. The factory will produce enormous monopiles (the pillar for the turbines). The factory project is expected to be completed in 2024.
Luxury homes on Silverstone
Pharma giant Smith + Nephew are planning to build a new research centre on a 23-acre site in Melton West. It has operated its wound management centre in Hull for more than 160 years. Hull was the birthplace of the pharma company. Politicians have voiced concern over loss of jobs in the move which is due to take place in 2024.
The global pharma company now has more than 16,000 employees globally and started as a pharmacy in Whitefriargate. At one point it was going to move to Malaysia and shut down the entire operation in Hull but the site at West Melton won.
£150m to bid for in Community Ownership Fund
HG Construction will build 60 homes at a million pounds plus trackside at Silverstone with a clubhouse featuring a swimming pool, fine dining, gym and leisure facilities.
‘Escapade Silverstone’ was designed by Twelve Architects to enhance the ambience of the Formula 1 track. For F1 afficionados, compared to Monaco Silverstone can be a shed and tent affair so the development should improve the experience for luxury travellers and F1 enthusiasts.
The development is expected to complete in Spring 2023. More info https://www.silverstone.co.uk/visit-stay/escapade
Network Rail announces £1.3bn frameworks
Network Rail is looking for suppliers for smaller works and renewals in the north west and central parts of the country from London Marylebone to Cumbria. There are three frameworks to deliver a mix of structural, electrification and building works over the next 5 years.
PQQ responses are due by 29 July. More information email Network Rail.
Work starts on controversial Leicester £100m warehouse
More warehouses! Work has started in Leicestershire on the 48 acre G-Park Ashby de la Zouch to deliver more than 700,000 square feet of warehouse space. Located in the ‘Golden Triangle’ near the A42 and A552, developed GLP expects to complete in 2024.
Inspiring Women gets 50 members
50 construction firms have signed up to the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering pledge committing to gender equality in the sector including Aecom, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Lendlease and Multiplex.
The pledge strives for a more inclusive industry, improve business environments for women and champion equal representation on boards.
Firms can sign up here https://inspiring.constructionnews.co.uk/inspiringwomen/en/page/enter-now
More info here.