SWH signs Plymouth maintenance deal

South West Highways (SWH) has inked a seven-year road maintenance contract with Plymouth City Council.

The company was named preferred bidder for the deal to replace Amey last month and will start work in April on the new contract, which has an option for a three-year extension.

SWH chairman David Binding (pictured front with council leader Ian Bowyer), said: “We will now be working with Plymouth City Council during the mobilisation period for the establishment of a true partnership to meet the needs of the council and its customers from the commencement of the contract.”

SWH will provide dedicated customer liaison officers as part of the contract, as well as a public information portal showing current and upcoming works and providing real-time progress updates for each site.

Councilor Steve Ricketts, cabinet member for strategic transport and housing delivery (pictured back, centre), said: “We’ve made it a priority to keep Plymouth moving and we want residents to receive a highways service that is efficient, innovative and customer-focused.

“We went through a detailed procurement covering a range of criteria – from resilience and innovation to value for money – to select a highways maintenance provider that will best meet the needs of the Council and its customers.

“As part of the new contract we’ll also be building on links we’ve forged with Devon and Somerset councils during the procurement*, to find ways of working collaboratively and achieving ‘more for less’ – for example by coordinating our activity or procuring materials together.”

The procurement was carried out in partnership with Somerset and Devon County Councils, who were tendering their highways contracts at the same time. Sharing these costs meant better value for money for all three councils, as well as local taxpayers.