HS2 Ltd, the company charged with constructing Britain’s new high-speed rail network, has today issued Notices to Proceed (NtP) to the four main works civils contractors (MWCC) working on the project – SCS Railways, Align JV, EKFB JV, and BBV JV – to commence full detailed design and construction of Phase One of the HS2 railway, the route from London – West Midlands.
This move follows the publication of the Oakervee Review and the government’s decision in February to continue with the HS2 project.
HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “While the government’s top priority is rightly to combat the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives, we cannot delay work on our long-term plan to level up the country.
“HS2 will be the spine of the country’s transport network, boosting capacity and connectivity while also rebalancing opportunity fairly across our towns and cities.
“Following the decision earlier this year to proceed with the project, this next step provides thousands of construction workers and businesses across the country with certainty at a time when they need it, and means that work can truly begin on delivering this transformational project.”
The four work packages are for full detailed design and construction of Phase One of the HS2 railway. Through these contracts, small and medium businesses have the guarantee of a pipeline of activity for the future, helping to protect jobs and boost certainty for them in the current climate.
An estimated 400,000 supply chain contract opportunities for UK businesses will be created during Phase One of HS2, supporting thousands of jobs on site and many more around the country. It is estimated that around 95% of those contract opportunities will be won by UK based businesses and around two thirds of those will be small and medium sized businesses.
Mark Thurston, CEO of HS2 Ltd, commented: “In these difficult times, today’s announcement represents both an immediate boost to the construction industry – and the many millions of UK jobs that the industry supports – and an important investment in Britain’s future: levelling up the country, improving our transport network and changing the way we travel to help bring down carbon emissions and improve air quality for the next generation.
“HS2 has been over ten years in development and design. While the country’s focus is rightly on defeating COVID-19, the issuing of Notice to Proceed today ensures that our contractors and their supply chains have the confidence that they can commit to building HS2, generating thousands of skilled jobs across the country as we recover from the pandemic.”
The four notices to proceed have been issued to:
SCS Railways (Skanska Construction UK Ltd, Costain Ltd, STRABAG AG) – £3.3bn
– Euston Tunnels and Approaches
– Northolt Tunnels
Align JV (Bouygues Travaux Publics SAS, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, a subsidiary of VolkerWessels UK) – £1.6bn
– Chiltern Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct
EKFB JV (Eiffage Genie Civil SA, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Ltd, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman) – £2.3bn
– North Portal Chiltern Tunnels to Brackley
– Brackley to South Portal of Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel
BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, VINCI Construction Terrassement) – £4.8bn
– Long Itchington Wood Green Tunnel to Delta Junction and Birmingham Spur
– Delta Junction to West Coast Main Line Tie-In (Handsacre Junction)
Total contracts value (point estimates excluding risk) – £12bn
Stations, rolling stock, systems and other non-civils contracts are not included as part of the MWCC awards.
