All around the UK large scale civil engineering projects are going on right now. With more than 15,000 new buildings erected last year alone, there has been an increase in activity as both government and big industry players, in conjunction with high value civil engineering contractors have ramped up spending on projects that will make the country’s infrastructure fit for 21st century trends. In this article we will take a look at the hotspots for these projects, with an example of a big project in each location.
Leeds
Leeds came into the limelight in terms of large scale civil engineering construction with the launch of the £45m flood alleviation scheme, featuring the first movable weirs in the UK. This project has brought about a knock on effect as construction increased significantly around the city centre.
London
At the heart of large scale civil engineering projects in the UK is London. The Crossrail and Olympics triggered a chain of huge civil engineering construction projects. Over 10,000 people have been employed, or are currently employed, on the 40 sites of the crossrail project. The project is expected to go on beyond 2017.
Two projects that are expected to trigger more large scale construction in London are the construction of two football stadia for Chelsea Football Club and Tottenham Football Club. Away from the main stadia, there are several large reconstruction projects for residential and business premises to be carried out. The projects are expected to begin in 2016.
Tweedbank/Edinburgh
The £294m new Borders railway is at the heart of large scale civil construction in this area. With 7 new stations and 30 miles of track, it is not surprising that it has become a construction hotspot. Property investors are taking advantage of the project to develop new building projects to cater for the human traffic boom around here.
Manchester
The Northern Hub rail programme is at the heart of large scale civil engineering projects in Manchester. This project is focused on catering for more passengers each year. Around the project, however, there are several Grade II listed projects going on to take advantage of the potential increase in number of passengers using the rail. The rail project is due for completion this year but experts believe the knock on effects on civil construction will run into 2018.
Brighton
The Brighton Marina village is the biggest project going on here, and it has brought with it lots of big civil engineering work. Several hundred new homes are to be constructed over the course of the next fiveyears. A good number of these will be around the Marina area, but private investors are also financing other projects in anticipation of a population boom.
These are some of the large scale civil engineering hotspots in the UK. With improvements in the economy have come increasing numbers of projects.
