News

HS2 Phase One winners announced with station designers shortlist

Winners of £6.6bn of main contracts for Phase One of HS2 have been revealed with the shortlist of firms that will design three new HS2 stations and work on the Euston development masterplan. The Hybrid Bill for Phase 2a of the high speed line from Birmingham to the West Coast Mainline south of Crewe will also be published today, with confirmation of the route for Phase 2b to the East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester.

The Phase One contracts award divides the 120 mile route between Euston and Birmingham into three principal sections of Area South, Central and North. The SCS Joint Venture of Skanska, Costain and Strabag has been awarded both of the two main contracts of Area South for the tunnels and approaches through north London into Euston. The BBV JV of Balfour Beatty and VINCI has picked up the two big contracts for Area North including the Delta Junction and spur into Birmingham and there's better news for Carillion this week, with its CEK JV with Eiffage and Kier getting two main contracts of Area Central. The Align JV, of Bouygues, Volker Fitzpatrick and Sir Robert McAlpine, has been given the third big Area Central contract for the Chiltern Tunnels and Colne Valley Viaduct.

The chair of HS2, David Higgins, said: "This is a huge day for the HS2 project and for the country. These contracts will support 16,000 jobs here in Britain and will create oppurtunities for thousands of SMEs." Around 60% of the 7,000 supply chain subcontracts are expected to go to SMEs on the HS2 project.

"HS2 was always designed to be more than just a high speed railway. Today we can see what it will bring across the country, spreading prosperity and acting as a catalyst for investment and development. Business now has surety to invest with confidence," Higgins said.

The shortlist of station designers announced includes Arcadis, Arup, Mott MacDonald, WSP and a Jacobs, Buro Happold and Idom JV. Each of these shortlisted have been invited to tender for a minimum of two station design packages for the new stations at Birmingham Curzon Street, Birmingham Interchange, Old Oak Common in north London and the Euston Station extension.

More than 170,000 jobs are expected to be created in the wider development areas around all four stations. HS2 Ltd chief executive, Mark Thurston, said: "All four station projects represent exciting opportunities to showcase the very best in engineering and design while also delivering value for money. We are not only looking for partners to help us deliver stations which provide unparalleled levels of accesibility, ease and convenience for passengers, but who will also work with local communities to ensure we unlock wider regeneration, new jobs, homes and opportunities."

Additionally, companies that have been shortlisted and invited to participate in dialogue for the Euston Master Development Partner contract include Westfield Europe, the Argent-led Euston Regeneration Partnership, Canary Wharf Group, Land Securities and Lendlease Europe.

Network Rail Property managing director, David Biggs, said: "This brings us a step closer to realising an exciting and vibrant new district in the heart of London. The opportunities are vast. A regenerated Euston Station affords us the ability to improve connectivity and to create new space for homes and businesses. The new station will bring huge benefits for London and the country as a whole."

The design contracts for the HS2 stations and the Euston development master plan are due to be awarded early next year.