Hs2 Names Enabling Works Contractors

16.11.16

LM, the joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and Murphy, has been named as one of three contractors for HS2’s enabling works.

LM, along with Fusion JV and CS JV, will deliver essential early works – including archaeology, site clearance and setting up construction compounds – ahead of the start of the main civil engineering work.

The £900m enabling works contracts cover the whole of Phase One, from London to Birmingham and the connection to the West Coast Main line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with work due to begin next spring.

The following joint ventures will be appointed:

  • Area South - CS JV (Costain Group Plc and Skanska Construction UK Limited)
  • Area Central – Fusion JV (Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd BAM Nuttall Limited and Ferrovial Agroman (UK) Limited)
  • Area North - LM JV (Laing O’Rourke Construction Limited and J. Murphy & Sons Limited) -  covering the section from Birmingham Interchange north to Curzon Street and the connection to the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre.

The contractors will also deliver a range of activities including utility diversions, ecology surveys, demolition, ground remediation, watercourse activities, highways realignments, monitoring and instrumentation, structural reinforcements and drainage work.

Jim Crawford, HS2 Ltd managing director – construction, said: “Over the coming years, our new partners will deliver the essential preparatory work we need to deliver the main construction programme on time and on budget, as well as creating jobs and training opportunities for thousands of people all along the route from London to the West Midlands and across our UK-wide supply chain.”

Paul Sheffield, managing director, Engineering Enterprise, Laing O’Rourke, said: “It is a privilege to have been selected with Murphy to begin work that will lead to the creation of the UK’s new high speed line. Projects like this are great news for the UK’s economy and its transport links. They also mean the creation of new jobs and opportunities for suppliers right across the country. We’re delighted with the news, and keen to get started.”

Steve Hollingshead, CEO of Murphy, said: “Over the past year, we’ve established a strong and close partnership with Laing O’Rourke. We’re ready to hit the ground running having engaged with a supply chain that’s looking forward to working on the project. Together we will work with HS2 Ltd, key stakeholders and local communities along the route to make sure we carry out this project in a structured and sensitive way.”