Suffolk County Council has awarded Milestone Infrastructure a new highways services contract for up to 20 years, which is estimated to be worth in the region of £800m-£1bn.
The deal will begin in October and will see Milestone, a part of M Group Services Transport Division, deliver highway projects and improvements across Suffolk.
These include but are not limited to maintaining roads, pavements and rights of way, drainage, hedge trimming, construction of new road schemes, snow-clearing and gritting.
The council said that as part of an extensive procurement exercise over many months.
It worked with leading industry analysts to understand what aspects of contract agreements may work best for the county.
It added that it wanted the new contract to focus on delivering greater social value, utilising local skills and talent, and giving young people the opportunity to work in the sector, as well as building on its commitment to carbon reduction and protecting the environment.
Matthew Riches, operations director for Milestone (pictured, right), said: ‘In this new partnership, we are committed to maintaining the safest possible network for local communities, businesses and the travelling public, all year round.
‘Our commitment to exceptional delivery will also focus on working collaboratively with the council to meet their net-zero carbon targets and enhancing biodiversity.’
Cllr Paul West, the council’s cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways (pictured, left), said: ‘We wanted to find an organisation who could provide excellent services and value for our residents, while sharing our ambition and ideas to innovate in improving the delivery of services, communicating more effectively with customers and sharing our commitment to reducing carbon use.
‘As we navigate mobilising the new contract over the coming months, we will continue delivering highways services for our residents which meet the standards and value for money we expect.’
He added: ‘I want to take this opportunity to thank the officers involved in successfully procuring and awarding this new contract while continuing to keep our county safe and moving.’
The current issue of Highways magazine includes a feature on the ‘wicked problem’ of contract mobilisation from Ross Bullerwell, managing director of Real Highways, and Lianne Butler White and Ruth Kinsella of Co-Creation Partnership.
