Balfour at the double with project launches

20/05/2024 | STEVE MENARY

Balfour Beatty has been given the green light to start two key projects and has had another term maintenance deal extended with a reduced workload.

The contracting giant will start work in late 2025 on the £200m North Hykeham Relief Road in Lincolnshire (below) after the county council finally secured planning permission.

Balfour has been in place since April 2022 for the job, which is the final phase of a ring road around the city and will link the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass.

Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: ‘Now that planning consent’s been granted, our team can formally enter into negotiations with landowners while continuing to prep all of the legal orders needed before construction can start.

‘Our current plan is to present these to Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee in June and then Executive in July, before making them live for public consultation. The focus will then be preparing a full business case for DfT [Department for Transport] before making a start on building the road late next year.’

Consultants Jacobs, Ramboll and WSP are all advising the council on the project, which comprises 8km of dual carriageway and will take around three years to complete.

Balfour is also gearing up for the delayed £170m A57 Mottram Bypass scheme after the last in a series of legal challenges was cleared.

Balfour Beatty was awarded the £108m construction contract three years ago but a judicial review that considered all legal challenges has only just ended with Judge Lady Justice Thornton confirming that the case against the scheme is now closed.

Formerly known as the Trans-Pennine Upgrade, the scheme is now referred to as the Mottram Moor Link Road and A57 Link Road project and comprises a new dual carriageway from Junction 4 of the M67 to a new junction on the A57(T) at Mottram Moor, plus a new single-carriageway link road from the A57(T) at Mottram Moor to a new junction on the A57 in Woolley Bridge.

In Southampton, the company’s existing relationship with the city council that began in 2010 is set to be extended for another five years with a new £60m deal. Balfour’s initial 10-year deal in 2010 was valued at £100m.

Cllr Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport comments: 'The council has entered into a feasibility stage to assess the viability of using the SCAPE Civil Engineering Framework (Term Service contract) to deliver highways and associated services.

'Subject to successful completion of the feasibility stage, we intend to enter into a contract with Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Limited (BBCE) for a maximum period of 5 years, but it has yet to do so. If a contract is awarded through this framework, it is intended that the services shall be delivered by Balfour Beatty Living Places Limited (BBLP) through an intercompany agreement or subcontracted arrangement between BBCE and BBLP.'

Another deal in Herefordshire that was valued at £200m when it began in 2013 will now end.

Balfour was awarded a £54m two-year extension to the Herefordshire Public Realm contract last December, but now the council has decided the contract will end in 2026 ‘because the current contract does not allow the council to deliver its longer-term requirements and aspirations’.

A new contract will start on 1 June 2026, but the council did not respond to questions from Highways about when procurement will begin.

Correction: This article has been amended to make clear that the Southampton procurement is still in the 'feasibility' stage.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

UGO bus Coordinator

£26357.00 - £31008.00 per annum + pension
UGO bus CoordinatorPermanent, Full Time£26,357 to £31,008 per annumLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
This role is fundamental to the success of the Highways Service. Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW