果冻影院

The race is on for a wave of significant construction contracts, with 拢8 billion worth of projects currently at the tender stage.

Spanning multiple sectors and regions, these schemes represent a wealth of opportunities for contractors with awards expected imminently, and competition is set to heat up.

The biggest is a 拢3 billion trackwork scheme on the High Speed Two (HS2) rail link (Project ID: 19314880), while United Utilities is developing a 拢1.8 billion aqueduct resilience programme due to begin in September 2024. (Project ID: 19384153).

London boost

The next largest scheme at the tender stage is a 拢540 million HS2 signalling and traffic management scheme (Project ID: 20425845) planned for London, where a revival in the commercial building market is also having an impact.

A 拢400 million plan to demolish Edward Edwards House on Blackfriars Road in Southwark to make way for a 21-storey office complex is moving ahead with the appointment of a contractor imminent (Project ID: 19299671). The joint clients, JTRE London and Southwark Charities, also want to build 64 almshouses as part of the development, which is expected to commence on-site in May this year.

In Camden, north London, a contractor is being recruited under a pre-construction services agreement for the 拢400 million Euston Tower Science Innovation Hub (Project ID: 23220803).

Commercial plans

An upturn in the wider commercial sector is also evident in the regions and decisions are due on contracts on a pair of schemes in the North East worth a total of 拢800m.

Contractors are circling the 拢450 million Crown Works Studios plan in Sunderland (pictured) being developed by FulwellCain Studios and the city council (Project ID: 23063401). Once a construction deal is finalised, work could begin as early as March this year.

Construction is expected to start in October in nearby Gateshead on Ask Patrizia鈥檚 拢350 million Sage Arena development, which also includes a hotel (Project ID: 23273078).

North West work

The North West has traditionally been the main focus of commercial development in northern England and a rise in data centre construction is due to bring a 拢350 million scheme to Stockport (Project ID: 23180902).

Detailed planning has been secured for the KAO Data Campus. With tenders for the main contract returned, a start on-site is expected this spring.

The biggest scheme in the North West at the tender stage is the 拢400m Essar Hydrogen Plant, which is being developed at the Stanlow Refinery at Ellesmere Port (Project ID: 20080820). Work could begin this summer.

Midland boost

The West Midlands continues to benefit from HS2 and the contract for a 拢523 million power package is due to be awarded soon (Project ID: 20326311).

HS2 is also helping generate confidence in other sectors in the Midlands and tenders have also been returned for the 拢350 million Stone Yard residential scheme in Birmingham (Project ID: 05393578).

New year, new work

The imminent award of a host of major contracts across the country should provide a New Year boost to industry confidence.