Nova and RSK Install Floating Solar Farm at Cheshire Quarry
Nova and RSK have commissioned a 400 kW floating solar farm on North Arclid Lake at Bathgate Silica Sand’s Arclid Quarry in Cheshire. The array, built from 650 panels and covering an area equivalent to two Olympic swimming pools, went live after a six‑month build, delivering clean electricity and lowering the quarry’s energy costs. The project was completed without disrupting quarry operations, highlighting floating photovoltaic technology as a viable decarbonisation tool for heavy‑industry sites in the UK.
Interview: WSP Experts on How AI Is Being Used to Save Engineers’ Time
WSP’s AI team is embedding machine‑learning tools across its UK and Ireland practice, beginning with Microsoft Copilot to automate routine engineering tasks. The rollout has delivered an average weekly time saving of about 165 minutes per staff member who uses...
AtkinsRéalis to Deliver Engineering Services for Belfast Rapid Transit Phase 2
The Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure has appointed AtkinsRéalis to lead design and construction supervision for Belfast Rapid Transit Phase 2 (BRT2) from 2026 to 2032. The contract is part of the £124.5 million (≈$158 million) Belfast Region City Deal, which aims to...
HS2 and the Growing Cost of Long-Term Uncertainty
The UK’s high‑speed rail project HS2 now carries a price tag of about $130 bn at 2025 prices, more than double the original $62 bn estimate, and its opening has slipped to 2039. The latest government update attributes roughly one‑third of the...
Sweco to Acquire Finnish Technical Consults Platom
Swedish engineering firm Sweco announced the acquisition of Finnish nuclear consultancy Platom, adding roughly 30 specialists with 25 years of experience in safety, licensing and technology. The deal positions Sweco as the leading nuclear adviser in Finland and bolsters its...
Network Rail Infrastructure and Working Practices Led to Train Delays and Cancellations
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) concluded its investigation into the Wales & Western region, finding that Network Rail’s infrastructure and working practices had driven poor train performance. Since August 2024, Network Rail implemented a long‑term improvement plan, cutting...
Midland Main Line Upgrades Increase Freight Usage Despite Electrification Pause
Network Rail has boosted freight capacity on the Midland Main Line by upgrading key structures, notably the Kirk Hill bridge, despite the UK government’s pause on electrifying the route. The bridge rebuild and headroom improvements between Sileby, Loughborough and Trent...
In Pictures: World’s Largest Crane Lifts Hinkley Point C’s Second Nuclear Reactor Into Place
The world’s largest land‑based crane, Sarens SGC‑250 “Big Carl”, lifted Hinkley Point C’s 500‑ton, 13‑meter Unit 2 reactor in a two‑day operation, completing installation on 29 May. The side‑lift onto a rail system and final positioning with an internal polar crane replaced...
Cornwall to Devon Rail Feasibility Study Gets Green Light
Cornwall Council has approved a feasibility study for a new rail corridor linking Okehampton to Penzance, dubbed Kernow Connect. The line would follow the A30, include tunnels and a viaduct, and upgrade the existing Exeter‑Okehampton route. Designed for 200 km/h, fully...
How Energy Efficiency Can Secure Manufacturing’s Competitive Advantage
Rising energy prices are eroding the competitiveness of UK manufacturers, with 40% planning to curb investment. Government’s British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will subsidize energy bills for 10,000 firms, but a one‑off payment cannot address long‑term challenges. Systematic energy audits...
National Grid to Replace Wires on 40km Route Between East Dorset and Southampton
National Grid has contracted Balfour Beatty to replace the conductors on a 40 km, 115‑pylon transmission corridor between Mannington and Nursling substations. The reconductoring and steel‑structure refurbishment will run from June to November 2026, with no anticipated power interruptions. The upgrade follows...
Contractors Appointed to £150M Lincolnshire Highways Framework
Lincolnshire County Council awarded a £150 million (≈$190 million) highways framework to 13 contractors, covering maintenance, improvements and major resurfacing through 2030. The framework is split into three lots: Lot 1 (£21.6 million/≈$27 million) for general works, Lot 2 (£67.2 million/≈$85 million) for mid‑size projects, and Lot 3 (£91.2 million/≈$116 million)...
Work Progressing on £61M Sturry Link Road Project Following Funding Boost
VolkerFitzpatrick has started construction on the £61 million (≈$77 million) Sturry Link Road in Canterbury, Kent, a new route connecting the A28 and A291 that will bypass the congested Sturry Level Crossing. Kent County Council secured £48.5 million (≈$62 million) from Homes England in...
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Head of CCUS on Carbon Capture Criticism
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ EMEA CCUS head John Picken pushed back against a UK Public Accounts Committee report that labelled carbon capture as high‑risk. He highlighted Mitsubishi’s track record of 18 commercial plants, including the world’s largest U.S. facility capturing roughly...
BHX: How Surface Access Strategy Underpins Capital Investment and Long-Term Airport Resilience
British airport Birmingham (BHX) unveiled a £76.5 million (≈$98 million) 12‑month capital plan aimed at bolstering cyber, fire and climate resilience. The programme, part of a £300 million (≈$384 million) investment schedule through 2029, translates to roughly £1.5 million ($1.9 million) of upgrades each week. By...
Tarmac Opens Northumberland Asphalt Plant with ‘Innovative Sustainable Technologies’
British construction materials group Tarmac has opened a new asphalt plant in Barrasford, Northumberland, featuring a suite of sustainable technologies. The facility can incorporate up to 45% recycled asphalt planings, uses dimethyl‑ether‑fuelled burners, and boasts nearly double the storage capacity,...
Infrastructure Investment at Lancashire Treatment Works
United Utilities has upgraded the Over Kellet and Nether Kellet wastewater treatment works north of Lancaster with new chemical dosing infrastructure. The joint‑venture bWGM installed ferric‑based phosphorus removal kiosks and a bespoke spill‑containment manhole, lowering effluent phosphorus and stabilising pH...
HS2 Ltd Launches £1bn Interim Maintenance Contracts After Reset
HS2 Ltd announced a £1.034 bn (≈$1.3 bn) interim maintenance contract programme, extending from July 2027 to December 2037. The contracts will cover routine repairs, asset care, and safeguarding of infrastructure completed under the Main Works Civils Contracts, with optional landscape and civils services....
Why Critical National Infrastructure Providers Should Strengthen Cyber Defences
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre warned that critical national infrastructure (CNI) operators face a heightened risk of severe cyber‑attacks, citing recent coordinated strikes on Poland’s energy grid. As industrial control systems become increasingly connected to corporate IT and cloud...
Welsh People Treated Like ‘Second Class Citizens’ over Rail Funding in Light of HS2 Cost Increases
Plaid Cymru’s transport spokesperson warned that Wales is being treated as a second‑class nation after the HS2 high‑speed rail project’s cost estimate rose to about £103 bn (≈$131 bn). The UK government classifies HS2 as an “England and Wales” project, meaning Wales...
Oldham Council Set to Launch £20M Highways Framework
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council has issued a pipeline notice for a £20 million (≈$25 million) highways improvement framework, titled the Active Oldham Strategic Partnership Agreement, covering civil‑engineering works across north‑east Greater Manchester. The framework is slated for April 2027 to March 2031, with a...
CCS Launches £120bn Construction and Infrastructure Framework
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has launched a new construction and infrastructure procurement framework valued at £120 bn (≈ $154 bn) excluding VAT, running from 21 January 2027 to 20 January 2035. The framework consolidates traditional building works, civil engineering, off‑site construction, and specialist defence and nuclear...
Jacobs Selected for Environmental Baselining Work at Oldbury for Potential New Nuclear
Jacobs has been hired by Great British Energy‑Nuclear to deliver environmental consultancy and baseline studies at the Oldbury site in Gloucestershire, a location under consideration for a new nuclear power plant. The scope includes terrestrial and marine data collection, habitat...
Collaboration Is Key, but Not Always Integrated to Projects, New Research Finds
New research by NEC Contracts, the commercial arm of Thomas Telford Ltd, surveyed over 1,000 construction professionals across five continents and found that more than 80% view collaboration as essential for project success, yet 70% still rely on traditional contract...
HS2: New Review Finds DfT Consistently Missed Scrutiny Opportunities
A review by Sir Stephen Lovegrove commissioned by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander finds the Department for Transport consistently failed to scrutinise HS2 Ltd, despite its oversight mandate. The report highlights missing capabilities in engineering, commercial assessment and governance, and an...
Tayside Contracts Set to Launch £20m Subcontracting Framework
Tayside Contracts, the commercial arm of three east‑Scotland councils, is preparing a £20 million (~$25.6 million) subcontracting framework for civil engineering and related services across Angus, Dundee City and Perth & Kinross. The multi‑lot structure comprises nine categories ranging from surface repairs to major...
Rival Proposal for Heathrow Expansion Would See Runway Built in Two Phases
The Arora Group, via Heathrow West Ltd, has unveiled a rival two‑phase runway proposal for Heathrow, backed by IAG, Virgin Atlantic, IATA and Swissport. The plan calls for an initial 2,400 m western runway by 2035, later extendable to 3,500 m, and...
Why Wales Could Be the Next Energy Powerhouse
Oil and gas price spikes triggered by U.S.–Iran tensions have highlighted global energy vulnerability, but Wales is already ahead, generating 54 % of its electricity from renewables in 2024. The Welsh government has set a new target of 70 % renewable electricity...
DNOs Should Move From ‘Reactive’ to ‘Preventative’ Resilience Approach, Says Report
A new Imperial College report warns that the UK electricity distribution network is becoming increasingly fragile due to ageing assets, rising electrification and more frequent extreme weather. It calls on distribution network operators to abandon reactive, fix‑on‑fail tactics and adopt...
MPs ‘Not Convinced’ Heathrow’s £49bn Third Runway Will Be Financed Entirely with Private Funds
British MPs voiced skepticism that Heathrow Airport's proposed third runway, priced at £49bn (about $62bn), will be funded solely by private capital. They highlighted the airport's existing debt of over £15bn ($19bn) and an additional £100bn ($127bn) projected for carbon‑abatement...
What Could a Reform UK Government Mean for the Infrastructure Sector?
Reform UK, buoyed by recent local election gains and strong polling, could become the largest party in a future minority government. Senior spokespeople from the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) say they would work with Reform to deliver a...
Safety Recommendations Made by RAIB 18 Years Ago Still Not Implemented
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has 117 safety recommendations still pending, representing 6.5% of the more than 1,800 it has issued since 2005. The backlog includes items dating back to 2008, and responsibility for closing them is disputed between...
King’s Speech: Bills Put Forward to Unlock Airport Expansion and Infrastructure Construction
In his 2026 King’s Speech, King Charles announced a suite of bills aimed at accelerating UK infrastructure, including the Civil Aviation Bill for airport slot authorisations, the Highways (Financing) Bill to fund the £10 bn (≈$12.7 bn) Lower Thames Crossing, and the...
BBV Completes HS2’s Tallest Bridge Ahead of Weekend Launch over Busy Rail Line
HS2 engineers have completed the 4,200‑ton Curzon 2 bridge, the tallest structure on the high‑speed line, featuring a 24‑metre high steel truss and a 150‑metre deck. The 250‑person team from Balfour Beatty Vinci spent three years assembling the bridge beside the...
Severn Tunnel Upgrade in ‘One of the Toughest Environments on the UK Rail Network’
Network Rail and contractor ARQ will upgrade the Severn Tunnel’s overhead power system to combat its harsh, salty environment. The 7 km tunnel will see 838 bridge arms replaced and 9,000 m of copper contact wire installed, with work running nonstop from...
DfT Launches Ninth Edition of Its First-of-a-Kind Competition for Railway Innovation
The UK Department for Transport has opened the ninth round of its First‑of‑a‑Kind (FOAK) competition, offering £4.8 million (about $6.1 million) in grant funding for rail‑technology pilots. Since its inception, the programme has invested roughly £62.5 million (≈$79 million) in early‑stage innovations that can...
UK Steel Welcomes Nationalisation of British Steel
The UK government announced plans to place British Steel back into public ownership after a commercial sale proved unviable. Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the move as a "decisive step" to safeguard a strategically vital part of the steel supply...
Wills Bros Secures £13.8M Devon Relief Road Contract
Devon County Council has awarded Wills Bros Civil Engineering a £13.8 million (≈ $17.5 million) contract to construct the Cullompton Town Centre Relief Road. The 1.3‑km bypass, linking Station Road and Exeter Road via Meadow Lane, will run from 1 June 2026 to 1 January 2028. The scheme...
Government Nearing Decision to Select Site for Nuclear Waste Facility
Britain’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is poised to finalize the location of its geological disposal facility for nuclear waste, focusing on two Cumbria communities—Mid and South Copeland. A senior responsible officer was appointed in April, with a...
Former Quarry to Be Transformed Into Biodiversity Bank to Enable Infrastructure Development
Green Earth Developments Group (GEDG) is converting the 29.5‑hectare former Dalton Quarry in West Lancashire, owned by building‑materials maker Ibstock, into a biodiversity habitat bank. The 30‑year stewardship plan includes five years of habitat creation followed by 25 years of...
National Highways Imposes Weight Restriction on 7.5t Vehicles Using A5 in Towcester
National Highways introduced a 7.5‑tonne weight restriction on the A5 through Towcester on 6 May, made possible by the new Towcester Relief Road built by Persimmon Homes. The restriction diverts heavy vehicles away from the town centre, aiming to cut noise,...
Bam Nuttall Wins £9.5M Upper Thurne Flood Risk Contract
Bam Nuttall has won a £9.5 million (≈ $12.2 million) contract from the Broads Internal Drainage Board to design and build three new pumping stations in Norfolk’s Upper Thurne catchment. The NEC4 ECC Option A contract runs from April 2026 to September 2028, with a possible extension...
Port of Tilbury Showcases Hydrogen Power as Alternative to Diesel on Construction Sites
The Port of Tilbury demonstration showcased hydrogen replacing diesel generators on the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) construction site. GeoPura secured a $41 million contract to deliver 2,500 tonnes of green hydrogen, already powering generators that have produced 39 MWh using 2.33 tonnes of fuel....
Britain Can’t Afford Another Gas Price Shock – Nuclear Is the Answer, Says MP
Rising gas prices driven by Middle East instability are hitting UK households and businesses, reviving fears of another cost‑of‑living shock. MP Charlotte Nichols argues that accelerating new nuclear capacity is essential for energy security, climate goals, and protecting nature. The...
Pick Everard to Co-Partner University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham has added multi‑disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard to its sustainability advisor framework, positioning the firm as a co‑partner on the campus’s capital development programme. Pick Everard will guide the university and its contractors in embedding sustainable building...
Stantec to Oversee New Tees Valley Energy-From-Waste Plant
Stantec has been selected to provide technical oversight and advisory services for the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility, a 450,000‑ton‑per‑year energy‑from‑waste plant in Redcar. Developed by Viridor for a consortium of seven North‑East local authorities, the plant will treat residual...
Costain Secures Lot Contract for Dover Harbour Board Framework
Costain has been awarded Lot 1 of the Dover Harbour Board’s Project Contractors Framework, a six‑year contract worth up to £235 million (≈ $300 million). The lot covers utilities refurbishment and replacement across the Port of Dover, aligning with the port’s 2050 Masterplan and...
National Highways Appoints Team to Tackle Road Run-Off Pollution
National Highways has appointed WSP to lead its Water Quality Plan, supported by Mott MacDonald, Ramboll, Arup and Aecom, to treat road runoff across the Strategic Road Network. The programme targets 182 high‑risk outfalls identified for remediation by 2030, covering more...
Gotthard Tunnel Crews Advance 32m-a-Day Beneath Swiss Alps
Swiss tunnelling crews have broken through the northern fault zone of the Gotthard Road Tunnel's second tube, advancing up to 32 m per day through exceptionally hard Alpine rock. The 12.225‑m diameter hard‑rock Single Shield TBM, named “Alessandra” and delivering 5,250 kW,...
Sisk Completes York Central Bridge Installation After ‘Meticulous Engineering and Planning’
Sisk Infrastructure has lifted seven 86.2‑metre beams to complete the main span of a new 76‑metre bridge over the East Coast Main Line at York Central. The bridge, weighing 321 tonnes, links the Park Street phase with Water End and marks...