The government has given formal approval for construction work on the HS2 rail project to begin despite lockdown measures.
Britain’s Department for Transport (DfT) has issued a notice to proceed with detailed design and construction of the first 225km phase of HS2, the high-speed link between London, Birmingham and Lichfield, to the joint venture contractors working on the project.
The notice on April 15 follows the government’s commitment to the project in February having considered the findings of the independent Oakervee Review and other advice. The DfT says that at a time when the construction sector faces uncertainties during the coronavirus outbreak, issuing the notice to proceed provides a vote of confidence in construction companies and the wider supply chain supporting HS2.
“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,” says HS2 minister, Mr Andrew Stephenson.
Four joint ventures were awarded construction contracts for the project in July 2017 and will now be able to proceed with work in line with the government’s guidance around construction work continuing during the coronavirus outbreak. They are:
- SCS Railways (Skanska Construction UK, Costain, Strabag)
- Align JV (Bouygues Travaux Publics SAS, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick, a subsidiary of VolkerWessels UK)
- EKBF JV (Eiffage Genie Civil, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas, BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Agroman), and
- BBV JV (Balfour Beatty Group, Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Vinci Construction UK, Vinci Construction Terrassement).
Work to date has focused on scheme design and site preparation, including pricing and scoping, for the civil works. The project is expected to create 400,000 supply chain opportunities.
Construction workers on-site will need to observe Public Health England’s advice on social distancing during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The GMB union, which represents HS2 construction workers, said that the safety of the workforce “must be the overriding priority”.
Eamon O’Hearn, its national officer, said that construction should be “conditional on rigorous observation of social distancing, provision of personal protective equipment where required”, as well as individual risk assessments for vulnerable workers.
HS2 is set to link London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. It is hoped the project will reduce passenger overcrowding and help rebalance the UK’s economy through investment in transport links outside London.
HS2 minister Mr Stephenson added: “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.”
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