High Speed Two Rail Update
Posted by Steve Thomas on Thursday, March 15, 2018
HS2 has had a busy few weeks, with the Phase 1 station design contract awards and competition heating up for the station construction contracts. This year sees major progress as the project takes its first steps from design into construction, creating opportunities for engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors, and site managers. Also read our Market Update 2018Q1: UK Transport Projects
Station Designs Under Pressure
February saw HS2 confirm that Arup and WSP landed the station design contracts for the first phase of HS2. Arup will design both the Euston Station and Birmingham Interchange (£60m), while WSP was awarded the contracts for Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon Street (£70m).
These designs are meant to progress the detailed design, with the engineers preparing the designs up to the planning applications (RIBA Stage 3).
These contracts will be under pressure to deliver, with the station construction contracts due to be awarded in early September this year. As a result, we expect to see a sharp rise in demand for engineers and project managers imminently in order to finish the designs in time for the contractors to begin their works.
Future Development Works Create Opportunities
Lendlease also recently won the contract to provide future site development design advice for Euston Station (the master development partner [MDP] contract). They worked with Arup and Aecom – as well as many architects – to prepare the winning bid.
This means that Arup will be working on both the station design and MDP projects – and will potentially be on the lookout for additional engineering and project management staff to help them deliver on both contracts.
London Station Construction Bid War Intensifies
The station construction contracts have seen a joint venture of Laing O’Rourke, Canary Wharf Contractors, and MTR withdraw from the bidding process for the Euston Station work. This leaves four remaining bidders for the contract: Bam Nuttall/Ferrovial; Costain/Skanska; Mace/Dragados; and Bechtel.
On the Old Oak Common station construction contract there are also four remaining bidders, including Bam Nuttall/Ferrovial; Mace/Dragados; Balfour Beatty/Vinci/Systra; and Bechtel.
The construction contracts are meant to take over the existing designs from the engineers and further develop them ready for construction. So, in addition to the construction staff that will be needed, there is a potential for continued engineering and project management support on these projects.
If you’ve been considering working on HS2, now is a great time to get involved on the project, just as the station designs are finalised and construction is on the horizon. Register your CV with us today to keep updated with the latest HS2 opportunities.
Steve Thomas
Operations Director, UK
I am responsible for the delivery of Search Assignments, Business Development and UK Candidate Attraction Strategy. Based in Leicester and Melton Mowbray and have 20+ years experience in construction recruitment. I focus on recruiting for construction jobs in the East Midlands, West Midlands and across London and South East England.
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Email: steve@maximrecruitment.com