Balfour Beatty VINCI Receive HS2 Notice

Balfour Beatty VINCI, are pleased to announce they received a notification from High Speed 2 (HS2) to proceed with its two main civil engineering contracts.

The long-established joint venture (JV) between the two global infrastructure leaders will see the continuing with civil engineering contract, which is worth a combined total of c. £5 billion. Followng the Notice to Proceed, the 50:50 JV will commence the full detailed design and construction of both schemes.

Balfour Beatty’s in-depth expertise when it comes to delivering major infrastructure around the work will combine and co-ordinate with VINCI’s global capability in high speed rail and expertise in UK rail infrastructure projects.

The scope of works comprises of extensive earthworks, ground engineering, viaducts and tunnels along a 90km stretch between the Long Itchington Wood Green tunnel in the South, to the West Coast Main Line tie-in near Litchfield in the North, with a major junction into central Birmingham at Curzon Street.

The Notice to Proceed also marks a major milestone in the UK’s largest regeneration project, which will create thousands of employment opportunities, as well as dramatically increasing rail capacity and will also support economic growth in Britain.

Leo Quinn, Group Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty said: HS2 is a transformational infrastructure scheme, underpinning both the economic resilience and future growth of the nation, during these unprecedented and challenging times.

“Notice to Proceed provides clarity for many businesses up and down the UK, and, will drive investment in skills and capacity for current and future generations.”

Prep works are set to start imminently, with main construction to commence in the second quarter of 2021. All sites are to be fully compliant with UK Government guidelines for safe working practice in relation to social distancing.

At the peak of construction, there will be a workforce of 8,000 people who will be delivering the scheme, many of whom will be locally employed. In addition to this, Balfour Beatty VINCI will offer approximately 400 apprenticeship and graduate opportunities.

The JV between Balfour Beatty, VINIC and SYSTRA was awarded the construction management contract for the c. £1 billion Old Oak Common station in 2019. Wednesday’s (April 15^th, 2020) announcement brings the number of packages the company will deliver on behalf of HS2 to three.

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