Ports Can’t Afford Downtime, so Safety Upgrades Must Be Engineered for Live Operations
Ports are under pressure to modernize safety‑critical fire‑suppression systems while maintaining continuous operations, especially after the ISGOTT Sixth Edition tightened berth‑side requirements. At a UK crude‑oil terminal, Adi Projects is upgrading a four‑berth system using modular, bolt‑together components and extensive off‑site prefabrication to avoid downtime. The programme integrates civil, mechanical, electrical and control engineering, with a dedicated power‑distribution network and remote‑control functions to boost resilience. This approach shows how ports can meet regulatory compliance without sacrificing throughput.
PfH Scotland Launches £300M Framework to Support Decarbonisation and Retrofit Programmes
Procurement for Housing (PfH) Scotland has unveiled a £300 million ($384 million) decarbonisation and retrofit framework for the public sector. The 48‑month program is divided into 15 lots covering consultancy, asset management, energy‑efficiency upgrades, renewable systems, heat‑network installation and emerging technologies. Lots...
Thames Water Investing More than £20M on Berkshire Infrastructure Upgrade
Thames Water announced an investment of more than £20 million (approximately $25 million) to upgrade water infrastructure in Woodley, Berkshire, marking the utility's biggest upgrade in 150 years. The program includes an £8.4 million ($10.7 million) overhaul of the Bowsey Hill Service Reservoir and an...
Contractors Named for Hampshire County Council Gen5 Consult Framework
Hampshire County Council has introduced the Gen5 Consult – Transport, Highways & Infrastructure Consultancy Framework, a four‑year, multi‑supplier arrangement that replaces its previous professional services framework. The new structure comprises nine distinct lots ranging from broad multidisciplinary services to niche...
Costain Named on Gatwick Civils and Buildings Frameworks
UK infrastructure contractor Costain has secured places on London Gatwick Airport’s Civils and Buildings framework contracts, each spanning four years with a possible two‑year extension. The frameworks will govern a series of design and construction projects both airside and landside...
Sadiq Khan: ‘I Want London to Be World Leader for Green Data Centre Development’
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, announced a city‑wide strategy to make the capital the world’s leading hub for green data‑centre and AI infrastructure. A new City Hall report shows 99 facilities already draw about 760 MW – enough electricity for 750,000 homes...
In Pictures: Engineers Complete £23M Severn Tunnel Upgrade
Network Rail finished a £23 million (≈ $29 million) upgrade of the Severn Tunnel, restoring service after a 16‑day closure. The work replaced 838 overhead line support arms, installed 14 km of new wiring and a 7‑km copper contact wire, and removed 7,200 m of...
Consortium Awarded £1.2bn Beach and Coastal Management Framework
A joint venture of VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and AtkinsRéalis (trading as VBA) has secured a £1.227 bn (≈$1.55 bn) beach and coastal management framework with England’s Environment Agency. The contract runs from now until May 2034, with an option to extend two years,...
Yorkshire Water Appoints Jacobs to £32M AI Framework
Jacobs has secured a five‑year artificial intelligence services framework with Yorkshire Water valued at up to £32 million (about $40 million). The contract will see Jacobs deliver digital consulting and AI‑driven solutions to enhance asset performance, operational efficiency and customer outcomes across...
Docklands Light Railway Extension Could See Construction of New Thames Tunnel
Transport for London has opened a public consultation on extending the Docklands Light Railway from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via Beckton Riverside, featuring a new tunnel under the Thames. The proposal includes two new stations, aims to unlock 145 ha of...
Environment Agency Appoints Consortium for New Flood Risk Framework
The Environment Agency has appointed a consortium led by AtkinsRéalis, with Stantec and Waterman as sub‑consultants, to deliver the Flood Risk and Asset Management (FRAM) framework across England. The four‑year contract, sourced through the Government Commercial Agency’s Construction Professional Services 2...
Anonymity Cuts Both Ways: What Section 94 Means for Supplier Qualification in UK Public Infrastructure
On 8 April 2026 the UK’s Pan Government Collaborative Agreement awarded roughly $4.3 billion in contracts without naming any suppliers, invoking Section 94 of the Procurement Act 2023. The provision permits authorities to withhold supplier identities for national‑security or commercial‑sensitivity reasons, erasing the public audit...
Study Supports Physics of Fusion Power Generation, Says US Developer
Commonwealth Fusion Systems published five peer‑reviewed papers in the Journal of Plasma Physics, asserting that the physics underpinning its planned Arc tokamak is sound. Arc aims to generate 1.1 GW of fusion power and deliver about 400 MW of net electricity to...
East West Rail Begins Market Engagement for £300M Programme Assurance Partner Contract
East West Rail Company has opened a market engagement for a long‑term consultancy contract valued at up to £300 million (≈ $381 million). The Integration, Technical, Operations, Assurance and Environmental (ITOAE) partner will support the Oxford‑Cambridge rail programme from August 2027 to August 2039 under...
UK Needs to Learn From Germany and Know Exactly What Is Under Its Streets
The UK loses roughly £2.4 bn ($3 bn) each year to accidental utility strikes, a cost that translates to £35‑50 ($44‑63) per citizen. About 60,000 strikes occur annually, with 30% linked to poor or outdated as‑built data that often lacks centimetre‑level accuracy....