ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:24 Page 1

ACE CHANGE INTERVIEW ISSUE 30 | May/June 2018 Ogunshakin to Exciting times move to pastures at Turner & new at FIDIC Townsend page 4 page 22-23

PROJECT FEATURE ‘Super-sewer’ connecting Londoners with the Thames page 16-18

Produced for the industry by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering Delivering the new London GRAHAM TOM Bridge station pages 8-10

PLUS: l Regional hotspots l Skills Summit 2018 l Roundtable report l Celebrating our 30th issue l Sporting legacy ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:24 Page 2

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the 30th issue of Infrastructure Intelligence. We’ve now been going for four years and we’re delighted to be celebrating that fact on page 19 by reflecting on a significant milestone for our publication and website. Elsewhere, the magazine is packed full of the usual informative mix of news, features and intelligence about infrastructure that you’ve come to expect. Major projects feature strongly this issue. We have features on the impressive new London Bridge station (p8-10), the Thames Tideway project that will reconnect Londoners with the River Thames (p16-18) and we report on the potential for a new bridge from Scotland to Northern Ireland (p20-21). Speaking of potential, we preview the Skills Summit 2018 futureproofing the industry event that takes place in London in June (p6-7) and we also take a look at the fascinating proposals for HS4Air, which if realised promise to create “an M25 for high-speed trains” (p24-25). Our latest Think Tank piece sees Mott MacDonald’s Richard Shennan wax lyrical about digital transformation in the construction and infrastructure sector (p11), a theme echoed by AECOM’s Richard Robinson in an opinion column on page 31. We also take a look at the contribution that regional UK Produced for the industry by the Association markets are making to construction output (p5) and what Birmingham needs for Consultancy and Engineering to do to ensure its Commonwealth Games legacy (p30). Infrastructure Intelligence News, views, comment, information, great pictures, infrastructure and 12 Caxton St, London SW1H 0QL intelligence – still going strong after 30 issues! T: 020 7222 6557 Enjoy the read. www.infrastructure-intelligence.com Andy Walker, Editor: Andy Walker 07791 997602 editor, Infrastructure Intelligence [email protected]

Reporter: Ryan Tute 07843 055210 [email protected] Contents Commercial Director: Brian Nolk 020 7227 1882 News round-up 3 Car charging infrastructure; London housing; New NIC [email protected] panel

Design and production: Industry bodies 4 ACE chief executive to leave to lead world engineering Andy Smith & Denise Bell federation 07968 588729 [email protected] Market survey 5 Regional hotspots boost construction growth Skills 6 Skills Summit 2018 – we preview a new event for the Produced by Victoria Street Capital on behalf of the Association for Consultancy industry and Engineering, 12 Caxton Street, London Rail 8 Delivering the new London Bridge station SW1H 0QL. Think Tank 11 Richard Shennan talks digital transformation The views expressed in Infrastructure Intelligence are not necessarily those of the Opinion 12 Value and cost; The NSIP crystal ball; Apprenticeships Association for Consultancy and Engineering. Roundtable 14 Seeing change as an enabler, not a disrupter Printer: CPG, 9-10 Orchard Business Centre, Interview 14 We interview Barry White, Transport for the North’s new Sanderson Way, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1QG. chief executive T 01732 366666, [email protected] Major project focus 16 The ‘super-sewer’ connecting Londoners with the 2018 subscription rates: £80 a year. Thames GET MORE FROM Magazine anniversary 19 Celebrating 30 issues of Infrastructure Intelligence INFRASTRUCTURE-INTELLIGENCE.COM Bridges 20 We report on plans for a bridge connecting Scotland and Infrastructure Intelligence is published Northern Ireland six times a year, but you can find more content online. Our website infrastructure- Interview 22 Two new MDs and exciting times ahead at Turner & intelligence.com is updated daily, with Townsend two free e-newsletters a week. Sign up at the website: Rail 24 We look at HS4Air – an M25 for highspeed trains www.infrastructure-intelligence.com ACE news 26 Rail group on track; Progress Network; Reverse Follow us on twitter @infra_intel mentoring; CIO Conference Join the Infrastructure Intelligence group on LinkedIn EIC news 29 The need for a project pipeline for the environmental sector Sport and leisure 30 Creating a lasting legacy from sporting infrastructure Technology 31 How innovation and tech can help unlock the future

2 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:24 Page 3

News round-up Government’s £400m car charging infrastructure plans delayed

he government’s plan for a fund to the rest match-funded by the private help finance electric car charging sector. However, the government has yet Tinfrastructure is running behind to appoint anyone to raise the £200m of schedule. private investment and is way behind on Despite an announcement in last its plans to secure the funding. year’s autumn statement that a £400m In a written parliamentary answer to government fund would be set up to shadow transport secretary Andy finance the building of electric car McDonald, who asked how much of the charging points, the delivery of much- £400 had been raised, Jenrick said: “The needed infrastructure is set to be delayed, government is engaging with the private following a statement to MPs by junior sector to ensure that it (the fund) is set up Treasury minister Robert Jenrick. in the most effective way. We expect to This could be bad news for car launch the procurement for the private manufacturers and to efforts to tackle air sector fund manager in summer 2018, Housing crisis pollution in UK cities. To support the shift who will be tasked with raising the to zero-emission vehicles, the £200m of private investment. Further government’s £400m fund would be details will be announced in due course.” forcing London made up of 50% from the taxpayer, with McDonald criticised the government’s inaction, saying: “The government’s workers to electric vehicles policy has run out of power before leaving the driveway. quit jobs Ministers failed to admit they hadn’t secured a penny of investment and didn’t he shortage of affordable homes to intend to raise anything in the near buy and rent in the capital has been future. They have announced £200m that Tdescribed as a “ticking time bomb” isn’t theirs and hasn’t been promised to and is damaging firms’ ability to recruit them.” and retain staff, according to the latest With some polls showing that more CBI/CBRE London Business Survey. than a third of people would consider According to the research, two thirds buying a fully electric car, the need for of the firms in London are struggling to fast-tracking national charging recruit and keep staff as a result of high infrastructure is more important than prices and low-availability of homes. The ever. London Business Survey found that 66% of the 176 respondents said that housing costs were having a big say on how their recruitment, a record high percentage for NIC picks young professionals the survey. Significantly, 28% of firms said that to sit on infrastructure panel some of their employees had left because they could not afford to live in the local ixteen young architects, engineers, area. The housing shortage is also an issue designers and energy specialists in the for more senior employees, with three Sfirst few years of their careers have fifths (59%) of the capital’s firms citing it been handed a unique opportunity to have a as an issue for recruiting mid-level real influence over how the UK’s managerial staff (compared with 45% in infrastructure is developed over the next 2015). three decades. Eddie Curzon, CBI London director, More than a dozen of the UK’s top young said: “This survey speaks loud and clear – professionals have been selected to sit on the Armitt said he looked forward to London’s housing shortage is a ticking National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) working with these talented individuals time bomb. The potent combination of Young Professionals Panel after a judging who “could end up designing and lack of supply and high prices means team trawled through more than 500 managing world-leading infrastructure” businesses themselves are being priced applications. long into the future. “The commission out of the market, as they can’t afford to The panel was launched in April by NIC exists to identify what infrastructure the recruit and retain their workers, from chair Sir John Armitt with the aim to provide country needs up to 2050, so it’s right we entry-level to senior staff. And with two a platform for the infrastructure sector’s give the next generation of infrastructure thirds of firms not optimistic the housing future leaders and give them a chance to leaders a say in our work,” he said market will become more affordable in inform and have a say on the commission’s l To find out more visit the next three years, we have a stark work. www.nic.org.uk/ypp/ challenge on our hands.”

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 3 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:24 Page 4

Industry bodies

Ogunshakin to leave ACE to lead world engineering federation ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin is to leave retiring. FIDIC has 102 member associations representing the consulting the organisation after 14 years at the helm to become engineering industry globally and chief executive of the international engineering promotes the business interests of firms supplying technology-based intellectual federation, FIDIC. Andy Walker reports. services for the built and natural environment. Given its size and scale, elson Ogunshakin is stepping down infrastructure, ensuring a sustainable FIDIC is an organisation with massive as chief executive of the Association future for our industry. We wish Nelson the potential and it’s clear that Ogunshakin is Nfor Consultancy and Engineering very best in his new role as chief executive relishing his new challenge. (ACE) after 14 years in the role to take over officer of FIDIC and look forward to “FIDIC is a well-established global as chief executive officer at the working with him in our ongoing efforts to brand with diverse expectations from its International Federation of Consulting promote the business interests of stakeholders and urgently needs to Engineers (FIDIC). professional consultancy and engineering respond to the emerging challenges facing The announcement of Ogunshakin’s companies globally.” the global consulting engineering departure was made at the end of March Ogunshakin said: “I have seen many industry,” he said. “Internationally, our and it’s fair to say that it caused a bit of a progressive changes during my time at industry faces a number of key challenges stir in the industry, given his longevity at ACE, but the one constant has been the associated with the emergence of China’s ACE but also the considerable success he regard in which the association is held by economy, price volatility in the oil and has achieved since arriving at Alliance its members, by government and by our energy markets, urbanisation of cities, House well over a decade ago. many stakeholders in the construction and embracing digital technological On his arrival, ACE was losing members infrastructure sector. Given the growing innovation, market consolidation and and searching for a role in a changing importance of infrastructure, and the key growing economic and political instability industry. Ogunshakin led the organisation contribution of consultancy and across the globe. with some gusto and reconnected ACE engineering companies in driving “My priority, as a change agent, will be with the industry’s key players and economic and social prosperity, leading to take a root and branch review of FIDIC’s embarked on a transformation programme ACE is a hugely significant role. My activities, initially focusing on its core which saw the organisation increase in successor will be taking over an activities and deliver them very well. In size, influence and effectiveness to an organisation working in a business sector the medium to long term, I look forward effective industry lobby group that with a bright and exciting future. to working with the FIDIC executive punches well above its weight. “Leading ACE has been an enormous committee to establish appropriate Commenting on his decision to stand privilege and an amazing experience. I am strategic objectives, effective governance down as ACE cheif executive, current ACE immensely proud of the fantastic board structures, services proposition, closer chair and managing director of Ramboll and staff members I have been lucky to membership engagement and the UK, Mathew Riley, said: “On behalf of ACE’s work with over the years. Whoever takes implementation of operational members, the board, advisory board and over as chief executive will be working efficiencies to ensure we are responsive to entire staff, I would like to thank Nelson with a brilliant, diverse and talented an ever-changing international for his outstanding contribution to the corporate and operational team.” marketplace and fit for the future,” transformation and development of ACE Ogunshakin will replace current FIDIC Ogunshakin said. over the last 14 years. His achievements managing director, Enrico Vink, who is ACE’s board has already started the and unflinching dedication to the process to find a replacement and ACE and organisation have been both remarkable FIDIC have agreed to a smooth transition, and inspiring. “FIDIC is an organisation with the exact timings of Ogunshakin’s “He has successfully positioned ACE at with massive potential and departure to be confirmed once a the top table where it has been able to replacement is lined up. Ogunshakin will influence government, investor, developer it’s clear that Ogunshakin is then move to join ACE’s advisory board as and stakeholder decisions on relishing his new challenge.” its vice chair.

4 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:24 Page 5

Market survey

Regional construction markets appear to be benefiting from devolution deals and greater autonomy, writes Andy Walker. onstruction markets in the north west, West Midlands and the south Construction output is up in the West Midlands (pictured above) and the north west (below). Cwest have seen output increase despite Brexit uncertainty and appear to be benefiting from devolution deals and greater autonomy. According to the UK Market Intelligence report from professional services company Turner & Townsend, construction output increased by 30.7% in the north west, by 27.8% in the West Midlands and by 27.2% in the south west during the period immediately before the EU referendum through to the end of 2017. In contrast, construction output in London fell by 5.7% Regional hotspots during this time. The north west, West Midlands and south west are identified by the report as ‘hot markets’ where high demand and boost construction insufficient contractor supply has pushed up tender prices. Contractor order books in the West growth amid Brexit Midlands are 92.9% full for the current financial year, 12.4% above the national average. This buoyant market is being stoked by a raft of HS2 infrastructure projects, uncertainty strong manufacturing sector demand from Jaguar Land Rover and brisk levels of activity However, Turner & Townsend’s report uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on in commercial sector construction. forecasts that tender prices will only the construction industry, output data in Devolution is also playing a key role in increase modestly this year even in these several regions gives early signs of a driving that momentum. Last November the hot markets with 2.3% growth forecast in correlation between regional autonomy and West Midlands Combined Authority signed the West Midlands, 2.2% in the north west resilience to the confidence-sapping impact a second devolution deal, securing £6 and 2.1% in the south west. London is of an uncertain political future. The data also million of central government funds for a forecast to have tender price inflation of reveals the nuances of the London market. housing delivery taskforce, £5 million for a 1.7% this year. Despite a slowdown in the office sector, the construction skills training scheme and The prospect of such modest increases in residential and infrastructure markets in the £250 million from the Transforming Cities tender prices is likely to keep the pressure capital remain very buoyant.” fund to be spent on local intra-city transport on a supply chain that’s already seeing its While there remains regional variations priorities. margins squeezed by systemic skills in construction output, an emerging In addition, around £10bn of major shortages and high material cost inflation. national trend is the rise of single-stage construction projects including the This challenge will be at its most acute in tendering. In the first quarter of 2016, 27.4% complete redevelopment of land around London, where contractors risk being of projects were offered on a single-stage new High Speed Two stations has been caught in a double bind of sharply rising basis, compared to 36.5% on a two-stage brought to the market by West Midlands labour costs and weaker demand that gives basis. councils. An investment prospectus, less scope for tender price inflation. That split has now changed, with single- unveiled in March by West Midlands mayor Paul Connolly, Turner & Townsend stage tendering having increased by over Andy Street, outlined 20 different projects director, commented: “As market 10% at the end of 2017 while two-stage fell in the region. by over 5%. The trend reflects the increased In addition to their solid rate of output “Data gives early signs contractor appetite to take on additional growth and strong order books, these commercial and schedule risk. regions are also showing the classic signs of of a correlation “Notwithstanding, this increased hot markets – in which high demand and between regional appetite, clients need to remain cautious on insufficient contractor supply drive up what risk is actually being taken on and tender prices. From the period immediately autonomy and a managed by contractors. The failure of before the Brexit referendum to the end of resilience to confidence- Carillion and the rising number of 2017, tender prices rose by 4.8% in the north insolvencies suggests risk transfer in the west and 4.6% in the West Midlands and sapping uncertain current environment can be illusory,” said south west England. Paul Connolly political futures.” Connolly.

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 5 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:24 Page 6

Skills Skills Summit 2018: futur A new industry event will focus on the key skills challenges facing the infrastructure sector. new event to highlight the skills and attributes of the industry’s engineers A and technicians has been launched by the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE). The inaugural ACE Skills Summit: Future-proofing consultancy and engineering, takes place on Wednesday 6 June 2018 at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, London and will focus on the key skills issues facing the industry. Issues including how to attract and retain the next generation, the challenge of filling the skills gap and how best to deal with the loss of knowledge as more experienced generations retire will all be given an airing at the event. Key speakers from Ramboll, Engineering UK and the Royal Academy of Engineering will explore these issues in the morning session of the summit, while the afternoon will be split into three separate work- streams for emerging leaders, apprentices and HR professionals. The afternoon also includes practical sessions dedicated to improving commercial and business skills, as well as knowledge of the wider industry. Taking place during the Year of Engineering, the ACE Skills Summit will “We need to open people’s eye Two of the speakers at the forthcoming ACE Skills this data might not tally with their experiences. Many top companies will have Summit, Dr Hayaatun Sillem and Mark Titterington, hundreds, if not thousands of applicants for spoke to Infrastructure Intelligence. positions advertised. But in smaller companies, finding good, skilled engineers Dr Hayaatun Sillem, chief executive of worried should we be with the skills is a challenge. the Royal Academy of Engineering shortage that many point to? Q: Does the industry have more of an issue Q: Are you looking forward to ACE’s Skills HS: According to EngineeringUK’s latest recruiting and encouraging women? And Summit and how important are events like analysis, the construction sector is expected how can firms go about ensuring women this to ensure the industry focuses on to see a demand of over 750,000 workers climb the ladder and fill more senior roles? recruitment? between 2014 and 2024. That’s 75,000 HS: At less than 10%, the UK has the lowest HS: This is an exciting new event designed to people a year assuming a level proportion of female professional engineers look at future-proofing consultancy and annual distribution over the of any other European country, well behind engineering. I hope we get the opportunity ten-year period. 70% of that countries such as Italy at 19.5% and Sweden to discuss how the nature of work and the demand is replacement at 25.9%. Encouragingly, our analysis of role of engineers will change in the future. demand – either people women who graduate from engineering The profession faces a significant skills retiring or leaving the degrees shows that around the same shortage, so the more we can bring industry sector for other reasons. For proportion go into engineering jobs as men. together to align and increase efforts to many ACE members, who So, it suggests that once, we get young address this, the more impact we will have. represent some of the women into higher education and doing Q: Does construction and engineering have a world’s leading interesting engineering degrees, they are problem with recruiting new talent and how engineering companies, keen to take jobs in the profession.

6 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:24 Page 7 ure-proofing the industry

explore ongoing concerns around the skills generation; and gap in the UK construction sector. Estimates l Engineers, technicians or apprentices project that there will be a demand for who want to improve their business and 265,000 skilled employees in the sector, commercial awareness, knowledge and including 186,000 engineers until 2024. The leadership skills. situation is further exacerbated by the The skills summit will provide a unique ongoing uncertainty around Brexit and its opportunity for the sector to come together potential impact on the free movement of to address the skills issues it faces and will Europeans which has traditionally helped collectively identify solutions to future- to meet this demand. proof consultancy and engineering and The event will also look at strategies to ensure it remains both an attractive career attract and retain millennials who will soon choice and an industry which continues to make up 50% of the global workforce. The deliver to its fullest potential. new ways of working that need to be At the summit, ACE will also reveal the developed to appeal to a generation of results of its innovative reverse mentoring highly-educated, digitally-native, socially- project where senior leaders and senior conscious and confident self-starters will be executives (mentees) learn about current examined at the summit. trends and behaviours from junior staff ACE has collaborated with a range of (mentors) who in return gain valuable stakeholders in putting together the insight into the knowledge and experience summit’s agenda, including ACE’s Progress of senior executives. Network and HR Taskforce, the Technician The project, the first cross-company pilot Apprenticeship Consortium and a number of in the infrastructure industry, included 11 CEOs and HR professionals who have helped mentor pairings from Arcadis, BWB, Mott to devise an engaging and informative MacDonald, Max Fordham, Peter Brett, Tony agenda to explore the issues in-depth. Gee and WSP. All delegates at the skills The event is aimed at a number of summit will receive a complimentary copy audiences: of the reverse mentoring report which will l CEOs who want to gain insight on the highlight recommendations for any major skills issues facing their industry; company interested in launching their own l HR professionals who would like to learn reverse mentoring scheme. more about the innovative ways of l Full details on the ACE Skills Summit recruiting and retaining the next at http://ace-skills-summit.co.uk yes to engineering” Mark Titterington, chief executive of European counterparts managing to the tree as well as university pathways. It Engineering UK encourage more young people into the must be seen as a credible alternative to Q: Is more education needed to make industry? university and I’m not sure we have been as young people aware of the opportunities MT: This is my opinion and not necessarily fact, good at that as our European neighbours. available to them? but from my observations in the role so far, and Q: What messages or topics of discussion MT: The State of Engineering report we have looking across the world, one thing that stands will you be raising at ACE’s Skills Summit? produced shows just how far engineering out is the degree to which countries like MT: I’ll be looking at the overall skills skills are woven into the fabric of the Germany view the apprenticeship as a pipeline and the need from both a societal economy. It’s not just engineers working for technical route into a career. There seems to and economic perspective to ensure that our engineering companies, it’s engineers be a greater value placed on them and their education system is equipping young people working for the Sygentas of this world and it status, compared to what we with the skills they need to pursue these just challenges what you think an engineer have in the UK. career pathways. I’ll be talking about the does and the careers available to them. But I think we have got to try need to join up our employers with the yes, absolutely we need to challenge the and emulate that and activities in schools as one way of doing that. perception of what it is to be an engineer. hopefully the apprenticeship The diversity question will also be raised When I talk to young people they levy will go some way to and how I believe the engineering workforce automatically respond with digging tunnels improving things. of today does not reflect the diversity of the and building bridges, it’s heavy industrial Apprenticeship programs are a UK. We need to focus on getting more work. We have an awful lot to do to open terrific pathway into women into the sector and those from young people’s eyes to the modern, exciting engineering and ethnic minorities and socially disadvantaged world of engineering. allowing someone to areas. This is really important with Q: Is recruitment a British problem? Are our get to the very top of reservoirs of talent being untapped.

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 7 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:24 Page 8

Rail

With London Bridge officially opening this month after a five-year redevelopment, Ryan Tute speaks to some of the design leaders from WSP on how it remained operational throughout. “Open-heart surgery” delivers anewLondon Bridge station

esigning and constructing major developing a bigger and better station for infrastructure projects is far from passengers. Deasy. But imagine being tasked with The plan behind the programme was to completing the redevelopment of a 180- remodel the track and platform layout year-old station while ensuring some of the from nine terminus and six through country’s biggest train operators continue platforms to six terminus and nine to run services and more than 50 million through platforms. The redeveloped commuters still enter through its doors station is now capable of coping with 75 every year. million passengers a year. That is exactly the predicament a cross- When Network Rail first proposed the section of architects, designers and Thameslink Programme to transform contractors faced when carrying out the north-south travel through London, there £1bn transformation of London Bridge was little idea of how it could be achieved station. The work at London’s fourth due to the many complexities teams would busiest station is part of Network Rail’s face. To overcome the huge number of £6.5bn wider Thameslink Programme and challenges, success would only be progressively reconfiguring the tracks to one of the most complex and ambitious guaranteed through close collaboration, construct the new station in nine stages, rail station redevelopments in the UK. innovative thinking and a nine-stage each section of which had to come into The official opening took place in May. process which needed to be adhered to at service before the next stage can The upgrade work which began in 2013 every point. commence to avoid the overall schedule can be sectioned into stages, but years of The staging involved demolishing the overrunning. meticulous planning started back in 2008 old platforms and a proportion of arches Design leaders from WSP have been part to ensure the station could still be below the platforms and then of the process from the beginning. operational as sections were ticked off Technical director David Carter explains usually in 18-month segments. how the remit was to find a way of Now complete, passengers can benefit delivering the new station while ensuring from new trains running every two to three London Bridge remained open so the minutes through central London in peak travelling public could still use it. hours and a fit-for-purpose new station It was Carter who came up with an idea which should meet the needs of central to the progress of work. He floated passengers. The fundamental aim of the the suggestion to have non-stopping train project was to increase capacity and this services through London Bridge which has been achieved by creating new could allow work to be completed in

platforms, building a new concourse, and RAIL NETWORK certain sections.

8 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 9 TOM GRAHAM TOM

Commenting on the idea, Carter said: services was responded to with a certain “We proposed to train operators at what A common description used level of scepticism by Network Rail and the level could we stop train service at London Department for Transport (DfT) on whether Bridge and what would be acceptable in by those involved in the this was a credible case and whether terms of passenger flow. We asked whether project was “performing enough passenger capacity could be proved. having non-stopping services on the “We had to look at passenger footfall, Charing Cross and Cannon Street services open-heart surgery on a how the station operates and whether any at the same time was possible but patient that is jogging”. minor infrastructural changes at other understandably this was politically stations could be made. The non-stopping unacceptable and not viable for the train services were met with a level of resilience operators. After discussions, Network Rail but it was our job to prove how we could came back and said it might be possible if make it work. The last thing Network Rail we kept one at a time running. These and the train operators want is to say yes discussions were a key development in the that’s a great idea and then six months first two years as it allowed us to push onto down the line have the media writing station designers that not only is this the stories of Charing Cross in chaos with the structure but this is what you need to be barriers and entrances closed because they doing at the various stages of the process.” are flooded with people.”

The idea of having these non-stopping RAIL NETWORK continued on page 10 >>>

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 9 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 10

Rail

>>> continued from page 9 London Bridge But like any redevelopment of this size, station from the a number of construction and civil outside. Photo: Tom Graham. engineering challenges were encountered. A common description used by those involved was “performing open-heart surgery on a patient that is jogging”. To overcome road bumps in the process, communication and collaboration with all the workers, stakeholders and train operators was immensely important. WSP was the lead consultant in a joint venture with Arcadis, working for main contractor Costain, Network Rail, Balfour Beatty Rail, Siemens and Grimshaw, the original architectural team. Employees working on the station were located in one office next to the station, with the design team peaking at more than 240 full-time equivalent staff at any one time. Adrian Tooth, a design director for WSP, said it was the best co-working environment he has experienced during his career. “I have worked in other co- located offices before, but this was the best in terms of levels of engagement and speed of communication. Anything that is highly complex in nature is always potentially going to be difficult to achieve so the way you work your way through any challenges is to ensure you are working very closely together. A phrase that was coined to demonstrate this was “stand and talk, don’t sit and send” which summed up the principle of going to find the person you needed so you could not only talk through it but draw through it.” Tooth’s thoughts are echoed by Carter who said that only by all parties buying into the delivery dates could London couldn’t be achieved and they were delivery of the second stage on time, with Bridge be kept to schedule. recorded in lots of detail with the Museum two-thirds of the street level concourse and “Programme is king,” Carter adds. of London. The new design pays homage to three new through track platforms “Anyone from Costain, to someone its Victorian roots and existing arches have opened. The start of the year also saw the signalling for Siemens, or laying track been brought back into public vision after final section of the new concourse open from Balfour Beatty Rail, needed to buy most of them being hidden away for about along with the final five platforms after into it and hit the dates in the staging 100 years. Wherever we could we tried to ten days of major engineering work. The process, as if one doesn’t then it pushes re-purpose and re-use.” concourse measures up larger than the the whole strategic programme out. It’s a The project has been hailed by those pitch at Wembley and united all 15 massive piece of work which everyone involved as a major success with many platforms for the first time. bought into because they knew that them milestones hitting schedule along the way. Summarising the success of project, being late down there, screws everything In August 2016, teams celebrated the Carter believes the teams can be proud else up here.” that they managed to avoid a train Another important principle from the operator’s nightmare of changing the start has been to retain some of the “The new design pays timetable monthly during the length of Victorian heritage of the station which has homage to its Victorian roots redevelopment. brought back some of old structural assets He added: “When you look on the into public vision. and existing arches have whole over a five-year period, there was Tooth said: “The station’s original been brought back into only three fundamental changes in service Victorian features have been pattern and when you consider there are sympathetically incorporated within the public vision after most of four service groups running through and final design where possible. Part of the them being hidden away for each one only affected once through the planning conditions meant historic process that’s quite an achievement, elements of the station had to be retained about 100 years.” especially due to the complexity of the but there were some parts where this Adrian Tooth, WSP work.”

10 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 11

thethink In the latest of ourInfrastructure Intelligence Think Tank articles, Mott MacDonald’s global tank digital business development director Richard Shennanlooks at six key areas Giving a voice to big ideas he believes are central to digital transformation in the construction and infrastructure sector. Paving the way for digital transformation

ncreasing demands, limited resources. Digital twins: Using digital technology infrastructure. Embracing these changes is The age-old task of our industry has to unlock hidden value from our assets a key element in the digital Ibeen to find the most efficient starts by creating a digital representation transformation of our industry. solutions to the world’s toughest of that asset which can then be modelled, problems, and this challenge has only analysed and value engineered. While New contract models: The focus is become more acute due to pressures as BIM models for individual elements or shifting: from the delivery of physical diverse as population growth, climate assets are common, this can be extended assets to the handover of digital assets change, urbanisation, and the need for to digital representations of whole such as datasets and information models, social development. systems, and even cities as ‘systems of and from minimising capital costs to We know that the digital systems’. With exponential growth in the embedding whole-life value. The very transformation of our industry will amount of asset data available – and as notion of a ‘successful project’ is changing, provide the crucial step change needed to asset systems rarely work in isolation and our contract models need to change deliver this vital infrastructure in a way from other systems – massive scale digital too in order to standardise, incentivise, that is socially, economically and twins are a crucial ‘next step’ in regulate and reward the use of environmentally sustainable. What is delivering more for less. information to create value. harder to ascertain is just what this digital transformation will entail, and how to get Smart infrastructure: The digital Blockchain: One of the most exciting from where we are to an infrastructure transformation of our industry enables developments of the digital revolution has industry that is ‘digital by default’. smart infrastructure – the application of been blockchain and distributed ledger Provided in association with Mott digital assets, dynamic data from technology which enable and record MacDonald, the Digital Transformation multiple sources, and data management secure peer-to-peer transactions. By Hub on the Infrastructure Intelligence website systems to our physical infrastructure. In identifying information transactions and aims to answer this question, and our mature economies, where there is little the delivery of value across the delivery content will be divided into the six key scope for new build solutions, smart team and supply chain, reward can be areas we believe are most important: infrastructure will unlock extra capacity distributed accordingly – incentivising from existing assets. In countries where digital design and delivery. Digital transformation: How do we the infrastructure base is less developed, The digital revolution has completely define ‘digital transformation’? Many smart infrastructure will ensure what is transformed other industries, including organisations interpret it as an IT project, built is fit for the long term. While smart finance, media, healthcare and but it should really sit within the overall assets are characterised by user interfaces manufacturing. As the infrastructure business strategy as a business transformation and decision support tools, central to industry undergoes its own inexorable project. Legacy structures controlling how getting it right is the deep domain change, organisations must adapt to information is stored and managed often expertise that leads to a true remain relevant. This hub will act as a key lead to separated silos, duplication and understanding of infrastructure. place for the discussion of the main ideas incompatibility, problems which are in digital transformation. We look magnified when you consider the wider New processes in construction: From forward to exploring these ideas with supply chain. Embedding new business prefabrication and automated you. processes to better store and manage construction to cloud-based modelling information is essential to realising the and the use of immersive solutions, new l Access the Digital Transformation potential benefits as the digital revolution and exciting changes are taking place in Hub at www.infrastructure-intelligence. disrupts our industry. the way we design and build com/digital-transformation-hub

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 11 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 12

Opinion

Phil Wilbraham, expansion Project 13, a collaboration between the l Articulating the voice of the customer Infrastructure Client Group and l Value-driven mindset programme director at industry partners with support from the l Articulating the voice of operations Heathrow and chair of the capable owner strand of Institution of Civil Engineers, is looking l Relating to the ecosystem Project 13 to revitalise the current operating model l Creating and maintaining complex of infrastructure development. systems The new approach will be built upon l Recruiting, building and maintaining Breaking the spiral innovation and collaboration, increasing talent productivity and reducing wastage. The In the brave new world of Project 13 of low-cost value project and the community that has we would expect the capable owner to been built around it covers five key articulate the voice of the customer on infrastructure strands – governance, organisation, making sure that this is heard projects integration, capable owner and digital throughout the supply chain and that transformation. feedback from the customer is being Each of these strands is being properly analysed and applied to developed and designed currently to be delivery. rolled out in due course. However, as Furthermore, the capable owner will this work could lead to a significant be aware of the outcomes defined by the change in the way that projects are customer and therefore be able to define delivered, it is certainly worthwhile the value of the project against those. sharing some of the thinking that is This will help to break the lock-step going on within the Project 13 toward low-cost value that has dogged community. the industry. Each strand has begun to define itself By defining values and objectives in against some of the problems that the this way the capable owner will be able current model for delivery throws up. Of to ensure that everyone involved in the particular interest here is the role of the project from programme managers, to ‘capable owner’. The role of the asset operators and asset maintainers infrastructure owner is critical to ensure fully understand the ultimate objective that the right infrastructure is created, and outcome for each project. This will operated and maintained. The Project 13 create a well-informed business community and working groups have operation that is able to deliver what is defined the new role of the capable required rather than what is assumed. owner as including: These characteristics have emerged from the work being done currently and begin to establish what it truly means to be a capable owner and how “[With Project 13] a capable the outcomes and objectives can help to define the value of any given project. owner will be aware of the This means that senior executives of outcomes defined by the infrastructure organisations who are reviewing their organisation can raise customer and therefore be awareness of capabilities through able to define the value of the discussion and gap analysis. Successful analysis using these characteristics project against those. This would help guide recruitment, inform will help to break the lock- senior management of capability maturity, spot development step toward low-cost value opportunities, and identify the next that has dogged the industry.” level of maturity.

Mike Rogerson, UK chief Given that 2018 has been designated as by those young men and women who operating officer at WSP the Year of Engineering, it’s an ideal made that choice before them. time to broadcast to teachers, parents Clearly, more needs to be done to and school leavers the value of an make the apprenticeship route an apprenticeship in engineering. attractive proposition to young people, There is a well-documented skills especially female students. The number We need to make shortage in the sector. As a leading of women in STEM apprenticeships has engineering professional services firm, remained static since 2012 with only 3% apprenticeships WSP invests significant time and energy in engineering apprenticeships, and promoting the value of apprenticeships research by Prudential shows the extent more attractive in schools, as we want to attract talented of the challenge. Six out of ten school young people into the sector from varied leavers believe apprenticeships are in backgrounds, and we understand the sectors with mainly male workforces, importance of children being inspired one in three parents say

12 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 13

We all know that NSIPs (nationally business and commercial projects Ben Lewis, infrastructure significant infrastructure projects) are (Sunderland IAMP and the London Resort) and energy director at large scale, complex development projects and the regime’s first solar farm are Barton Willmore subject to a consenting process enshrined scheduled for submission before the end in the Planning Act 2008 (as subsequently of the year. amended). Typically, applications for We understand these timescales have Looking projects are prepared by teams of skilled been provided by project promoters to consultants assisted by equally skilful PINS, with all the best intentions, through the lawyers. however, it is clear that a number of these Given the costs and risks involved in the will not make it across the submission NSIP crystal ball development consent order (DCO) process, finish line. We suspect that none of the promoters like the security of a definitive proposed tidal lagoon schemes will make date for submission as they will know that it anywhere near application stage until a usually around 16 months later they will decision is forthcoming on Swansea Bay. have a shiny new DCO in their hands. As for the others, that is a little bit more Equally, the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) difficult to call, and I do not intend to name like to have some visibility of likely any particular schemes, but you do wonder submissions dates so that they can ensure if some of those that have slotted appropriate levels of resource are available submission in within three months of for these projects to proceed through statutory consultation ending will make it, acceptance, examination and decision. particularly if you allow for draft document However, the timings of large, complex review by PINS – a crucial step (in my view) development projects have a habit of towards a less tortuous examination. being something of a moving feast – an Of the 33 applications identified for unavoidable characteristic of a project submission in 2018, we therefore predict with so many inter-related elements! Not that only 16 will make it through the all schemes will experience slippage (due doors of Temple Quay – so just over twice to a range of factors including unforeseen as many as were submitted in 2017. Of technical issues, scheme amendments, those, we predict eight will be energy stakeholder objections, land ownership projects, seven will be transport-related, issues, etc), and some will submit a slightly and one will be a business and commercial under-cooked application in order to meet project. You may think that this sounds an artificially imposed submission pessimistic, but preparing and submitting deadline (we all know the ones!). a DCO is not a walk in the park. In 2017, there were five new submissions and seven decisions. So, we, like the rest of the sector, are hoping for an uplift of this trend in the year ahead. I have “I do wonder if some schemes looked into my crystal ball to see how many NSIPs are due to land at PINs in that have slotted submission 2018, based on published timescales at the in within three months of time of writing. According to the 2018 NSIP year statutory consultation ending planner of likely submissions, a total of 33 will make it, particularly if applications for NSIPs are expected to be made this year, with 12 pencilled in for Q2. you allow for draft document Highways England is the busiest applicant review by PINS – a crucial step with no less than ten schemes scheduled for submission this year! Excitingly, 2018 (in my view) towards a less will also be a year of firsts. The first two tortuous examination.”

apprenticeships are suited to boys, and “I’m pleased to hear the traineeships for those who have taken a female students think most career break. We would also welcome opportunities are in nursing, healthcare, chancellor is open to dialogue with government on solutions and childcare. reviewing the flexibility of the to challenges like the funding cap for Our outreach is paying off, and we are engineering degree qualification delighted to have almost tripled the Apprenticeship Levy, as this delivery. number of female apprentices at WSP in would give us the freedom to And it’s not just about engineering. the last year. But we know there is much spend our levy on even more WSP also offers apprenticeships in more to do. I’m pleased to hear the transport planning, surveying and chancellor is open to reviewing the training opportunities, such business administration to name a few. flexibility of the Apprenticeship Levy, as as refresher traineeships for Apprenticeships offer school leavers a this would give us the freedom to spend fantastic career option. As a former our levy on even more training those who have taken a career apprentice myself, I could not agree opportunities, such as refresher break.” more.

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 13 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 14

Roundtable discussion

Claridge’s was the venue as industry leaders discussed the future of UK infrastructure investment and digital transformation at the latest executive roundtable organised by Infrastructure Intelligence and supported by BST Global.Andy Walkerreports. Seeing change as an enabler, not a disrupter wo key topics were up for need to think earlier about needs, to think ahead and not be reactive,” discussion at the latest projects,” Bennett said. said Vivian Sin from Hawkins\Brown T roundtable event – the “There’s a definite need to Architects. “A lot of money is still wasted future direction of and factor in the regeneration through bad planning and not thinking investment in UK infrastructure benefits of infrastructure,” said ahead,” she said. and the challenge facing the Michael Coombs from Alan The National Infrastructure Commission industry of ongoing digital Mark Brown: “One Baxter Ltd, “but to get that right (NIC) had a key role to play in this said Ben transformation of business. of the constraints you actually have to design it Lewis from Barton Wilmore. “The NIC Those present said it was on matching the correctly. There are a lot of needs to have a more independent and funding to the important to focus on the wider needs of the users problems with our major stronger footing,” said Lewis. “We need a economic and social benefits of or the government infrastructure where we made national infrastructure plan that has a long- infrastructure investment. Amey is a declining decisions and then have a debate term, cross-cutting outlook because that Consulting’s Mark Brown emphasis on about how we implement it, would give investors certainty because thought there needed to be project economics.” instead of thinking about how projects would be set in stone and be more more emphasis on project best to configure it and design it bankable,” he said. economics, which he said had been for the best overall benefit. If we Jeremy Owen from Land Use overlooked. “If you take the view that can maximise the economic Consultants said the role of the funding ultimately comes from either users benefits then that would make government was crucial. “The of the infrastructure or from government the case for funding from more government can consider that places a greater emphasis on the sources,” he said. broader social, economic and project economics, which I think is much A much more joined up environmental benefits that a overlooked as a credible discipline. approach was needed, with more Ben Lewis: private investor, even a pension “For users to be funding infrastructure, coordination and dialogue “The NIC needs fund, cannot do. The government the planning and design has to provide for between all the partners and also to have a more has a crucial role to play, even it is their needs and for the government to fund a role for government. “You need independent and just funding that gap to kick start it the planning must also address the wider to be thinking about what society stronger footing.” projects,” said Owen. economic benefits. One of the constraints on matching the funding to the needs of the users or the government is a declining Roundtable participants emphasis on project economics,” said lNeil Bennett – partner, lBen Lewis – lJeremy Owen – Brown. Farrells infrastructure and managing director, Neil Bennett of Farrells agreed. “There is lMark Brown – business energy director, Barton Land Use a need to think development director, Wilmore Partnership Consultants more widely about Amey Consulting lEduardo Niebles – lVivian Sin – the economic lMichael Coombs – managing director, associate director, benefits of managing director, international business, Hawkins\ Brown infrastructure and Alan Baxter Ltd BST Global Architects who benefits in lBrian Furr – director lBrian Nolk – lAndy Walker – order to make a Neil Bennett: “We strategic account commercial director, editor, Infrastructure need to think better business case. development, BST Victoria Street Capital Intelligence more widely There may then be a Global lNelson Ogunshakin – lRay Williamson – about the way of looking at a economic benefits John Geeson – chief executive, ACE, regional director, much wider range l of infrastructure.” director, Haskoll chairing the meeting Stride Treglown of funders. We also

14 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 15

it then others will have to follow suit or die,” Coombs said. There was a widespread view from those present that increased use of Eduardo Niebles: technology had the “It comes down potential to pave the to change management way for new business and how you deal models to arise in the with it.” industry. “We need to change the things we do with the technology and don’t forget that it is the people who are Claridge’s disruptive, not the technology,” said Mark was the Brown. venue for According to Eduardo Niebles “If we the latest don’t change the business model and BST Global collaborate more then we won’t change the roundtable. industry. We need to see a change in the business model where data becomes While agreeing, Amey transformation. “They haven’t knowledge. We’re working in a constantly Consulting’s Mark Brown said upscaled the knowledge and the changing environment and it comes down there was huge frustration that people that deal with digital and to change management and how you deal the investment community is we suffer from that,” he said. with it,” he said. way ahead of government. Eduardo Niebles of BST thought Those present were clear that change “There is a lot of money around. that the industry had it within its also needed to encompass how Pension funds and others now Jeremy Owen: grasp to make digital change infrastructure was planned and delivered ‘get’ infrastructure and they “The government happen. “It will be an existing and that reforming the procurement has a crucial role understand that the long-term player not someone coming in process needed to be a key part of creating a to play, even it is new business model. Allied to digital returns are well worth having, just funding that from outside who will make the but you still need government gap to kick start changes that up-end the industry; it transformation, this could be a real game to have clarity about its projects.” won’t be an Amazon,” he said. “The changer for the industry, they said. investment policy, clarity about AEC sector is seen as the A more enlightened approach to the role of the private sector vis-à-vis the least digitised and we are missing procurement would also call for a public sector in developing infrastructure a trick. We have to change the quality-based tendering process, and also to provide economics of the way we do rethinking what “value for some security for business and see technology as an money” means as well as the investors,” he said. enabler, not a disruptor,” he said. adoption of new or emerging There was wide Ben Lewis stressed the need technologies. That would make agreement on the for collaboration between the Vivian Sin: “We the industry more joined up and need for more longer infrastructure sector and tech need to be more deliver better infrastructure. As John Geeson: term thinking and a businesses. “There needs to be collaborative and Vivian Sin said: “We need to be bolder and we “Public sector belief that the more collaboration between our more collaborative and bolder need to do it now.” organisations industry could do sector and the tech sector and we need to do it now”. haven’t upscaled the knowledge more to nudge the because we don’t know what the tech can and the people government in a do.” He also thought that there needed to be that deal with particular direction, more urgency to act. “Look at the About the digital and we through better and technology being used in the nuclear sector. sponsor suffer from that.” more coordinated They have innovated because they have had lobbying. to and come up with bespoke solutions. BST Global provides integrated business Turning to the issue of digital There’s no big push in our sector but management software solutions for the transformation, how ready was someone will do it first,” he said. world’s leading architects, engineers, and the industry to embrace that? While collaboration was all environmental consultants. More than “You need to change the way well and good, it was important 100,000 professionals across six you run an organisation to to get the relationships right, said continents and 65 countries rely on BST solutions each day to manage their exploit digital technology and Michael Coombs. “Technology in projects, resources ,finances, and client therefore it’s a soft issue,” said the creative design industries is relationships. The company’s latest Mark Brown. “Technology really interesting but the tech has Michael Coombs: offering, BST10, is the world’s first multi- enables change but that change to serve us not dominate us,” he “Technology has lingual business management system to comes through people,” he said. to serve us not said. “We need to do the creative be built exclusively for the architecture Haskoll’s John Geeson thought dominate us. We thinking too and it has to come and engineering industry and made that some public sector need to do the from firms who are looking to be available both in the Cloud and On- organisations were under creative thinking more efficient and improve their Premises. For more information, visit bstglobal.com. prepared to deal with digital too.” productivity. As soon as one does

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 15 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 16

Major project focus The ‘super-sewer’ rec Londoners with the With tunnelling set to commence this summer, Ryan Tute takes a closer look at the Thames Tideway project, which will sustain the capital’s sewage network for the next 125 years.

s one major infrastructure project, work in the west section; Ferrovial and Crossrail, approaches the end of the Laing O’Rourke centrally; and Costain Aline, another is just about to embark Vinci and Bachy Soletanche in the east. on a defining year as Thames Tideway The end of summer is being pencilled in prepares to launch tunnel-boring machines as the start of the much-anticipated (TBMs) in a matter of weeks for the tunnelling process with 1,300 tonne TBM’s construction of a 25km ‘super-sewer’. lowered 53m deep at the organisation’s The £4.2bn Thames Tideway Tunnel central site in Battersea. It is currently a scheme is being constructed to tackle the hive of activity with the main focus on problem of sewage pollution in the River assembling gigantic sections of the Thames with the promise of “reconnecting machines which currently sit in the yard. Londoners” by preventing millions of The TBMs named Millicent and Ursula, will tonnes of untreated sewage flowing into measure more than 100m long when fully the Thames each year. It is the largest assembled. The first shipment made the infrastructure project ever undertaken by 500-mile journey at the start of February the UK water industry and will rid sewage from the across the Channel after being to levels never seen for 250 years – before built in Le Creusot, France. humans started polluting it. Tideway will employ up to 4,000 Lessons learned from Crossrail employees across 24 sites of various sizes, While Tideway gears up for the major stretching from Acton in the west to Abbey tunnelling process, Crossrail has not long Wood in the east and is entering a major finished completing their own excavation milestone moment. The sewer’s work. Those behind the massive water connection is being split into three parts; project say there are “lots of lessons to be with contractors Bam Nuttall, Morgan learnt” from their counterparts with many Sindall and Balfour Beatty carrying out the involved in the rail project now adding Work continues to assemble and test the TBMs (left); the 53m drop down the shaft to where the TBMs will begin tunnelling (right); the TBMs arriving at Kirtling Street on barges from France (top right).

16 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 17 econnecting e Thames

similar knowledge and expertise to Tideway. Michael Appleton, communications lead for the central section of Tideway, said: “Construction is a continuous improving process. It’s all about finding new and better ways of doing things. Anything you can glean from other projects is priceless and something you should be doing. The experience of Crossrail has been invaluable with things like stakeholder engagement, skills we need as well as the construction process. For example, one of the complaints from Crossrail was that the control box within the TBMs was not big enough so we have increased the size of it and that is just one small practical example of a lesson learnt.” The TBMs were transported along the Thames to keep in line with Tideway’s commitment to transport over 90% of waste by barge and will result in reducing the amount of trucks on the project by 72%. Sustainability was highlighted as a key target from the very start by Tideway. If “Thame Tideway will rid sewage to levels never seen for 250 years – before humans started polluting it.”

learnt” from their counterparts with many involved in the rail project now adding similar knowledge and expertise to Tideway. Michael Appleton, communications lead for the central section of Tideway, said: “Construction is a continuous improving process. It’s all about finding new and better ways of doing things. Anything you can glean from other projects is priceless and something you should be doing. The experience of Crossrail has been invaluable with things like stakeholder engagement, skills we need as well as the construction process. For example, one of the complaints from Crossrail was that the control box within the TBMs was not big enough so we have increased the size of it and that is just one small practical example of a lesson learnt.” continued on page 18 >>>

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 17 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 18

Major project focus

>>> continued from page 17 Diggers in bosses behind the project decided to operation at transport everything by road then Tideway’s Chambers approximately half a million truck Wharf site. movements would be made. The tunnel itself will work by intercepting sewage from 34 Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) before it moves into the Thames. The CSO discharge points will be connected to the tunnel under the river and rather than flowing into the Thames, the dirty water will be stored in the sewer. It will then be pumped to the Beckton Sewerage Treatment Works and once treated, the clean water will be finally released into the river.

Huge challenges ahead The task at hand is a huge one that requires constant collaboration and communication between the various teams on site. But the project remains on schedule with workers managing to negate challenges arising. “There are always huge challenges when it comes to a project like this,” impacts when possible can make or break A monumental year for the project Appleton said. “Crossrail used to say that a how a development is perceived and But as work progresses across various sites, project like that in central London is like accepted. 2018 has been dubbed as a monumental doing open heart surgery on a person still Trigger Action Plans have been a year for the project and once that will go a walking round and it’s very similar here. crucial component of keeping people on big way in defining how much of a success It’s always things that you are not prepared board from the start with Tideway it is. for which crop up, so last year we found a prepared to listen to its neighbours across Andy Mitchell, Tideway’s chief Second World War explosive bomb which London. For example, discussions have executive officer, said: “This is going to be a we believe rolled into the site from the been had when residents will have been big year for Tideway and we’re working tide. It’s those sorts of things which can told a noise limit and if work was to go hard to get tunnel shafts completed in throw your plans out of kilter,” he says. over that level then Tideway would preparation for the start of tunnelling later Another big marker in the project this provide the necessary mitigation in the this year. The arrival of Tideway’s second year has been the start of diaphragm form of secondary glazing or mechanical and third TBMs was another exciting walling at the Greenwich pumping station ventilation. Regular community meetings milestone, signalling that work is gearing construction site in preparation for digging which give people the opportunities to air up on London’s super sewer.” the tunnel shaft which will be constructed their views have also been commonplace. Tideway’s strapline is “reconnecting from the Greenwich through to Tideway’s Maintaining good links with the Londoners to the Thames” and that is Chambers Wharf site. The concrete community has been “absolutely vital” exactly what the lasting legacy is hoped to structure diaphragm wall will be inserted according to Appleton. be so that the general public won’t simply into the ground and will maintain an “Community relations can be very use the river for transportation but enjoy it excavation open, which is described as an much misunderstood but I think Tideway as the asset it once was for the capital. essential element of digging a tunnel shift. gets it right,” he added. “We are not as “The aim is a cleaner and healthier River Tideway delivery manager Jim Avant controversial as other projects in London Thames,” Appleton said. “We are not said: “After several months of hard work and I think that is helped by our approach. entirely sure what will happen with a the completion of the diaphragm wall There will be times when we make noise cleaner Thames as no one has any works at Chambers Wharf marked a but that is a fact of construction but we experience of that. For the past 500 to 600 significant milestone for the project. It was have done is try to be fair to people with years it’s been polluted so we can’t say no mean feat, around 35,000t of material mitigation and compensation.” ecologically what that will look like. I excavated during the works, all of which envisage people using the river more. was removed from site by barge in line “If you talk to rowers down at Putney with Tideway’s commitment to remove as “We are not entirely sure then they say if they fall in, they have to go much material as possible by river. what will happen with a to A&E because you end up with all sorts of Similarly, all reinforcement cages for the diseases. The attitude to the river in the walls have been delivered to site by barge.” cleaner Thames as no one past has been almost something of an has any experience of that. obstacle or inconvenience. But really, it’s Community engagement the reason we are here and is the lifeblood Like any other major project that runs For the past 500 to 600 years of London so cleaning it up is really through the heart of a city and near the it’s been polluted. I envisage important. People don’t use the river as a homes of residents, community relations place to enjoy and allowing Londoners to play a vital part. The ability for teams to people using the river more.” reconnect with the river will be the lasting lessen the environmental, noise and visual Michael Appleton legacy,” says Appleton.

18 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 17:25 Page 19

30 issues ofInfrastructure Intelligence

This current issue of Infrastructure Intelligence is the 30th edition of our print magazine. Editor Andy Walker reflects on a significant milestone for the publication.

xactly four years ago, in May 2014, Infrastructure Intelligence published its Efirst ever issue. The front cover featured a smiling HS2 boss David Higgins, who had just seen the second reading of the HS2 bill approved by parliament. In an editorial, Issue 01 of the magazine highlighted the potential for major infrastructure projects to create enormous national benefit and we have sought to highlight that benefit over the last 30 issues. Publishing 30 issues as well as a topical and up-to-date website for four years is no mean achievement. Throughout that time, we have given a platform to the key Still going strong issues – business and political – facing the industry and interviewed many of the personalities that make the infrastructure business such a fascinating place to work after 30 issues in. From that very first issue we set out our stall to do we yet know what Brexit and politicians to help map out a clear way highlight the key benefits really means for the industry – forward. that a healthy and vibrant and the country? I’m not sure The past four years have seen many infrastructure sector brings to that we do. changes which continue to challenge the society. We’ve done this by I wrote back then that it industry. We look forward to reporting on showcasing major projects like was “hard to overstate the those challenges as businesses and the Heathrow, the strategic impact of the UK referendum people who work in them grapple with highways programme and decision to leave the EU” and issues like digital transformation, major schemes on the rail that the “pace of events, automation, diversity and inclusion, network, but also increasingly political and economic since increasing devolution and regionalisation by trying to show the economic the result was declared has and who knows what else in the months and social benefit that the been truly astonishing”. I and years ahead. sector brings and why think it’s fair to say that the pace of events As one of the most important industry politicians should do all they can to since then has continued to sectors in the UK, infrastructure ensure that infrastructure is properly be frantic, but at times of has never been more important. planned and above all funded. uncertainty, it is vital that we With both major political Politics and politicians has certainly promote strongly the role of parties convinced of that been a running theme, particularly over infrastructure investment as importance in creating the past two years of Infrastructure a way to stabilise and grow economic prosperity and Intelligence. When I the economy and give keeping the national economy took over the confidence to businesses. buoyant, there’s never been a editor’s chair in At Infrastructure Intelligence, better time to be writing about July 2016 (issue we have continued to do that the sector. 19) our front page by enthusiastically A massive thank you to led with “Brexit – highlighting the good things everyone – companies, what does it that the industry is doing but interviewees and contributors really mean?” also not shying away when things go – who have helped get us to our 30th issue. Talk about a wrong. The Carillion collapse earlier this We couldn’t have done it without you. baptism of fire year which is continuing to have far Here’s to the next 30! for your first reaching ramifications for the sector is issue! Two years just one example where we have asked Andy Walker is the editor of Infrastructure down the line, the difficult questions of industry leaders Intelligence.

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 19 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 20

Bridges Bridging the gap for a Leading urban architect professor Alan Dunlop speaks to Ryan Tute about the possibilities of a bridge which connects Scotland and Northern Ireland as political desire grows.

fter Boris Johnson proposed in January that England could be Aconnected to France by a 22-mile bridge, a media storm ensued asking whether the uncosted suggestion of building a concrete structure across the world’s busiest shipping lane could be true. Inevitably within a day of Johnson floating the idea out to the masses, the idea was quickly greeted with if not ridicule, a large dose of scepticism. But if nothing, it did get the UK thinking and other possible The bridge that channel crossings were postulated. connects Denmark Media north of the border soon picked with Sweden across up on the press attention the suggestion the Oresund Strait. received, leading to one of Scotland’s leading urban architects, professor Alan boost and building a bridge reinforces the end of the Second World War. Dunlop, being contacted to give his idea we are a forward-thinking country,” But Dunlop has proposed suggestions thoughts about a bridge crossing said Dunlop. using the concept of floating bridges used connecting Scotland and Northern Ireland, Another proposed route for the bridge is in different areas of the world to overcome something which was first theorised by the between the Mull of Kintyre and Torr Head the depth and necessary non-contact with Democratic Union Party in its 2015 on the Antrim Coast which are just over 12 the sea bed. manifesto. While it never got off the miles apart. However, the professor “Norwegians are pioneering something drawing board, the idea has not faced the believes it would not be as beneficial with called floating bridges,” Dunlop explained. same pessimism. it maybe failing to attract a sufficient “Connecting sea orbs which are 500m Dunlop, who is a professor at Liverpool number of vehicles because of the four- deep, so I have suggested a floating bridge, and Robert Gordon universities, is one of hour drive to Mull of Kintyre from the more or like that are being proposed by the few to research the idea in any great central belt. Norway which could be done and detail. He claims that a road and rail One major problem that would need to connected to the sea bed in the same way crossing from Larne to Portpatrick is be navigated should any construction take an oil rig is connected through a series of architecturally possible and something place is Beaufort’s Dyke, a deep-sea trench tension cables,” he said. which would boost tourism and trade for around 300m deep. The trench which is The architect has also proposed a both sides of the crossing, while providing 10km off the Scottish coast was used as a similar bridge to the one that connects an extra needed physical link for Brexit dumping ground for explosives after the Denmark with Sweden across the Oresund and any future Scottish independence. Strait. The bridge runs for 8km and the “A connection between both countries tunnel for 4km. The combined railway and would be really advantageous as who “Any physical ties between motorway bridge is “cable-stayed” with two knows what will happen in the next 10 the two countries 204m high pylons supporting the 490m years with Britain moving away from the long bridge span across the Flinte channel. European Union?” Dunlop said. “Any which makes it Most of the bridge structures – the bridge physical closer ties between two countries easier for goods piers and bridge spans – were built on land which makes it easier for goods to be to be transported and subsequently towed out to the bridge transported is a positive for both sides of a alignment by a large floating crane. Dunlop bridge. We don’t know what will happen is a positive for believes the necessary knowledge and with Scottish independence either so if it both sides.” talent is here to carry out such a project. indeed ever happens then the physical He said: “Don’t get me wrong it would connection to Ireland would be a massive Professor Alan Dunlop be a significant engineering and

20 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 21 r a Celtic powerhouse?

Possible options include an underwater tunnel (above left) and a floating bridge, like that proposed by the Norwegians (above).

The Liverpool University professor believes that apart from the obvious physical connection incentive, a bridge being constructed could lead to a “Celtic powerhouse” and massively improve both trade and tourism. Dunlop added: "I honestly think it would be a wonderful idea and anything which improves physical connections should be explored. The two nations share a lot of history together, we have similar ideals, we really are very alike. I watched the TV reports following the debate being opened and so many people said they would travel architectural challenge but I think that the “What really needs to happen across nearly every weekend if the UK and Ireland have excellent engineers connection was made. The business that can overcome that but how you make is an economic feasibility potential is exceptional, the chance of that connection would be part of an study so we can get definitive really making an investment in what would extensive study and I have merely be the true north is something that should suggested one example of how it could be information.” be looked at.” done after researching the Norway Professor Dunlop Making one final comparison to the example. If you take for instance the bridge English Channel bridge possibility, Dunlop that connects Denmark to Sweden, it has says the conservative estimation of £20bn the floating element and underground The idea of an underwater tunnel has for the Celtic bridge would be just a elements which could be applied here.” also been floated in response to Dunlop’s fraction of the £120bn for the alternative Since the idea was mooted, questions thoughts and while he is not against the continental comparison to France. over funding have been quick to arise. The idea of a tunnel to connect Ireland and “We don't have the weather problems professor has said that he’s been quick to Scotland, the architect believes it will not and it would not be built across anything remind people he is an architect and not a incite the same inspiration as a bridge quite significant or as large a shipping politician or an economist but he believes being constructed. lane,” Dunlop added. “Apart from possibly that based on the size and construction of “If you take recent structures that have the ferry companies, the Celtic bridge other bridges, a £20bn ballpark figure been built like Norman Foster’s in France would have huge benefits for not just trade, could be projected. then these become iconic, a marker and a but tourism too. No doubt it would be Dunlop said: “The conversations I’ve positive indicator for a country’s future creating much more opportunities for had with politicians and various people in moving forward for the next 100 years or trade too with the direct link. Ireland is that lots of children are travelling so. Nothing does that like an impressive “I have been incredibly surprised by the back and forth to Scotland four or five structure that sits above the water rather amount of interest not just in Ireland and times a year and every journey costs them than below it. It’s much more interesting Scotland but from all around the world too. around £300. That means there is an and something that people can get Our ministers have also supported the idea economic equation to be made and a need encouraged by. I don’t know many people since it gained attention so there is growing to look at how you might privately finance to be infused by the Channel tunnel so support. The overwhelming reaction in the idea to make it economically viable. while I don’t have a problem with the idea favour shows there is will and a desire to What really needs to happen is an of a tunnel, I don’t see it being create a bridge that would be a dramatic economic feasibility study so we can get inspirational or imaginative for the marker in aspiration for the country going that definitive information.” public.” into the 21st century."

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 21 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 22

Interview

Turner & Townsend UK managing director Patricia Moore and David Whysall, managing director of the firm’s UK infrastructure business. Exciting times ahead at Turner & Townsend Turner & Townsend’s appointment of two new managing directors – for its UK business and infrastructure division – is a further signal of intent for a company that’s going places. Andy Walker visited their London office to catch up with both of them.

t’s not often you get to interview two to Turner & Townsend’s executive board. “A bit of trepidation and a bit of people with new roles where one has “As a truly global consultancy – a excitement, but also, I could see the Ireplaced the other, but that’s exactly partnership with around 90 partners across opportunity to grow and develop,” says what I did when I visited Turner & the world – we operate as one global Moore. “Also, I think that when you Townsend’s London offices to speak to new business, so I have a wider holistic remit progress as a woman in the industry you get UK managing director Patricia Moore and there too. And the UK has a massive this sense of responsibility around taking David Whysall, who has replaced her as influence in the global company because it those big opportunities because so many managing director of the firm’s UK is 50% of the global business,” she says. women need to see that path. I struggled to infrastructure business. Given the size of the UK operation, get my head round this for years because I I started by asking Moore how her new Moore is sure to play an influential role on never needed to see the path or see those role will differ from her old job. “The span the global board. So, how did she feel when role models, but I realised through the is different; I’m now sitting across she got her new role? mentoring I do and through the many everything that we do in all our markets in discussions I have had with many of our the UK,” she tells me. That includes our real “When you progress as a women, that they need to see that path. It’s estate business, which is a comparative size really important to most women actually,” to the infrastructure business and also our woman in the industry you she says.” natural resources business, which is a huge get a sense of responsibility Both Moore and Whysall have risen part of our global empire and most of our through the ranks to assume leading roles global natural resources clients are on taking big opportunities at Turner & Townsend, with Whysall headquartered in the UK. So, there’s new because so many women progressing from playing a key role in sectors for me to get more involved with Constructing Excellence’s junior arm, than I have been before.” need to see that path.” Generation 4 Change. Clearly the firm Moore’s new role also sees her promoted Patricia Moore believes in developing people and

22 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 23

promoting them quickly to leadership Three Turner & Townsend projects – positions. Wimbledon, the Scott Base at “As soon as I joined Turner & Antartica and Crossrail. Townsend I felt as though I was home,” Moore says. “The big thing that always got me was the complete breadth of opportunity and the meritocracy of the organisation. You didn’t have to speak with the right plummy accent, you didn’t have to have come from the right school. It was really about what was in your head and what was in your heart and how much you wanted it,” she says. Moore has been with the company for 19 years and has seen some changes in that time? “Phenomenal changes; in our business and in the workplace,” Moore says. “The most exciting change is that everyone wants women in our industry now and it’s a fantastic time to be a woman. Celebrating diversity and bringing on women in the business is really important,” she says. engaged in those activities is part of who Turning to David Whysall, what was his we are as a company,” she says. response when he got the role as managing The firm is also active in several industry director of the UK infrastructure business? bodies, institutions and associations and “Excitement. I’ve been with Turner & plays its part in industry improvement Townsend for 14 years and the growth of organisations. “It is another key pillar of the business means that I don’t think I’ve our corporate social responsibility and we ever had a role for more than two or three fertilisation of experience is important. We are increasingly conscious of our years. So, there’s always a new challenge, know that if there is a downturn then we responsibilities in that area,” says Moore. new major programmes, new things to are better placed to deal with it than many “Involvement in industry organisations is lead, new teams. of our competitors because of the diversity very much part of what we do and who we “Without doubt this is the most exciting of our offering and our markets,” Moore are,” she says. point the business has ever been at. You are says. As a business with 17 offices across the connecting with a very buoyant “There are three priority areas,” says UK and a wide geographical spread, how infrastructure market and we have Whysall. “What we do and getting better at important is the devolution agenda to the positioned ourselves at the heart of that. what we do technically. The second is to firm and what effect is it having on the Since the infrastructure business was set up have the best people working for us and the business? “Very important,” says Whysall. we have seen it grow from a smallish third is to remain relevant in the “There’s a real recognition from the business to one with around 1,000 people. marketplace by innovating and shaping devolved bodies that great infrastructure The potential ahead is huge,” Whysall says. client thinking and thinking about the long will be the key to future economic growth With politicians seeing infrastructure as term and how they operate their assets, and social stability. In the north west, the central to improving growth and prosperity, fund them and see a path forward,” he says. West Midlands and in Bristol where they it’s clearly an attractive time to be involved One thing that strikes you about Turner have those devolved powers right, you are in infrastructure. “Infrastructure has never & Townsend is their commitment to seeing some positive movement forward,” been in vogue like it is today in terms of the corporate social responsibility. “This has a he says. economic benefits it brings,” says Whysall. hugely unifying impact for our people,” “It’s broader than just devolution, it’s “We also need to stress more the social says Moore. “We raised £150,000 last year about that whole decentralisation agenda,” purpose of infrastructure – the ability to for Action for Children as out charity Moore adds. “We have local connections in drive social change and mobility in the partner and we have a schools programme our regions and one of the great things areas that infrastructure affects is really and encourage our people to go into about Turner & Townsend is that we have a exciting,” he says. primary and secondary schools and drive truly national business that is regionalised, I ask about their respective key priorities aspiration and inspiration in so we are in a great position to respond. We in their new roles. underprivileged children. Getting people have great relationships with our local “One of the things that makes us quite authorities and the new combined unique is the diversity of our offering, “There’s always a new authorities and we are embracing that,” she geography and reach,” says Moore. “One of says. my key aims is to use those collective challenge, new major It’s clear that Turner & Townsend is very opportunities and strengths. One of the programmes, new things to well positioned to take advantage of a fast- things that drives our culture and our evolving business and political landscape behaviours is our ‘one business’ philosophy lead, new teams. This is the and in Moore and Whysall they have people and it’s a massive differentiator for us in most exciting point the in charge with the experience, skills and the market,” says Moore. enthusiasm to grow the business further “Clients are interested in people who are business has ever been at.” and make an even greater impact than they doing things a bit different. Cross David Whysall already have.

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 23 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 24

Rail

After receiving national attention for a proposal that pledges to bring about a high-speed railway version of the M25, Alistair Lenczner spoke to Ryan Tute about the project and the future. HS4Air – an M25 for high- speed trains

ou don’t need to be big, to have sensitive areas such as the Surrey Hills. potential investors or organisations can see big ideas,” says the designer and The Expedition boss says that the it makes a lot of sense and could provide a “Ystrategic planner who is leading thinking behind HS4Air is about joining-up vital network for the country. The idea the charge for a new transformative high- projects around the country which remain became headline news in Kent when they speed railway which would connect the unconnected and describes it as a “high- heard they could be arriving into Gatwick in major airports of the UK and provide a link speed railway version of the M25 around half an hour. We are having discussions over for the north and Midlands to the capital London, except that it allows much faster the next few weeks and months with and further beyond to the continent. journey times with no congestion and with various people and the feedback we’ve had Alistair Lenczner is the director of far less impact on the environment”. has been extremely positive. Expedition is a Expedition, the London-based engineering The major infrastructure project fairly small team so this is not something consultancy which is behind the HS4Air proposal remains in its early stages, but the we can deliver on our own.” project, that proposes to connect the idea has already received national media The seed of the idea for the scheme came existing HS1 rail line to the planned HS2 rail attention and has led to numerous from a proposal Lenczner worked on when line along a route that passes via both interesting parties coming forward to learn he was at Foster and Partners. The group Gatwick and Heathrow airports. The project more about the possibilities. While created the Thames Hub infrastructure would also provide fast and direct rail access Lenczner is keeping his cards close to his proposal which featured a high-speed orbital from major cities north and west of London chest on who exactly discussions might be railway around London that passed through including Birmingham, Manchester and with, public bodies and consultants a major hub airport. However, Lenczner sees Cardiff, while “dramatically reducing involved in previous large infrastructure the HS4Air proposal as a perhaps more journey times”. projects have been suggested. pragmatic proposal that responds to current Those behind the scheme believe HS4Air He added: “We’ve had all sorts of people and committed infrastructure plans. would provide welcome relief for London’s in contact with us and I imagine it’s because The motivation to create something that rail network, the M25, the number of could connect London and beyond was domestic flights involving Heathrow and reignited late last year when Heathrow Gatwick and better value for investments “If you’re going to spend Airport went out to consultation again. The currently being made in the UK. £10bn on infrastructure then Expedition chief said it encouraged him to The 140km-long proposed network start thinking whether there was a way of would run between its connections with the benefits are spread across optimising national infrastructure, rather HS1 at Ashford and its proposed connection the country, it’s not just than just looking at airports and HS2. With with HS2 near Denham. Approximately 20% no obvious solution to connect HS1 and HS2, of HS4Air would run in tunnels to avoid London reaping the awards.” the designer said he simply started looking adversely impacting on environmentally Alistair Lenczner, director of Expedition at the map, the terrain and topography and

24 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 25

and be receptive to outside ideas.” An interesting development for the project came just over a week after Lenczner fronted Expedition’s plan. Transport secretary Chris Grayling announced in March that the government was seeking third party involvement for proposals for a new southern rail link to Heathrow. It’s suggested it would be one of the first projects under government plans to invite private investors to fund rail projects. It provided a big statement of intent moving forward and an indication of how the government sees large rail projects being funded in the future. Grayling argued the new approach would “relieve the burden on taxpayers and fare payers”. “It certainly got a few more emails being sent out around the office,” Lenczner said about the government’s announcement. “We are looking to see how we can respond to that window of opportunity and it definitely put the cat amongst the pigeons. sketching lines for possible connections. the ripples have spread far away; we are The current government obviously want to Like any other major infrastructural demonstrating the possibilities and looking get non-public funding into infrastructure network, funding is a key question. The cost for partners to make it a reality.” and my suspicion is that internationally the has estimated to be around the £10bn The designer believes that the time has money and interest is there, but investors mark, based on HS2 phase 1 costing models come to take a more long-term approach need to see a clear path for it to be as done by the National Audit Office. and hopes decision-makers will become deliverable in the UK.” “We didn’t enter a bottom-up pricing more inclined to take on board proposals. Moving forward, Lenczner says he has model to get to this figure,” Lenczner said. “One of the big things that the UK has been extremely pleased by the positive “It’s based on HS2 phase 1 costing and been poor at post-war has been planning response from both the public and media. doing the comparisons in terms of how national infrastructure. If you go around the He says he hopes discussions will continue much tunnelling cost, stations that were country, you cannot show me a long-term throughout the year and is desperate to built and track price. Adjustments based on approach. Network Rail work in as much as ensure the high-speed rail network this were how we go to £10bn. I’m not five-year periods and react to whatever progresses from drawings to something real. saying it’s cheap or a little amount but party is in power at the time. There is no He added: “HS4Air provides multiple compared to other schemes, you get a lot of plan though for 30 or 50 years and what it benefits within one project. By connecting bang for your buck. If you’re going to spend may look like. The French, Germans and HS1, HS2, Heathrow and Gatwick in one £10bn on infrastructure then the benefits Dutch have long-term plans which are less project, the numerous benefits offered are are spread across the country, not just susceptible to changes of government. The greater value for money. But like anything London reaping the awards.” Department for Transport’s civil servants else, we rely on more support from the Lenczner believes SMEs like Expedition won’t always have vast expertise in public and government and have to have a big role play to in influencing bigger delivering infrastructure projects so I think formulate funding models that can achieve organisations and governmental it’s encouraging if they are willing to listen it. But the benefits spread across the departments when it comes to delivering country, the biggest barrier between the infrastructure that could benefit the UK. north, the midlands and Europe is not the “Independent voices like ourselves who “We’ve dropped Channel Tunnel, it’s London and this can play the role of agent provocateur to a pebble and the network solves that. By creating HS4Air, you shake things up in the process are vital,” he are gifting more space to the London added. “Especially when working with ripples have network for Londoners. Take out the freight government departments or big spread far trains and take out the people who don’t organisations who will present more of a want to be travelling there in the first place corporate image. You don’t need to be big to away.” then you might have 10% further capacity have a big idea. We’ve dropped a pebble and Alistair Lenczner for Transport for London to work with.”

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 25 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 26

ACE news ACE’s rail group on track With parliamentary committee appearances and consultation responses, it’s been a busy first quarter for rail, writes ACE policy manager James Robertson.

he chair of ACE’s rail group, Alan Price of Jacobs, was invited to give Tevidence to the House of Commons transport committee on 26 February. Speaking on the topic of rail infrastructure investment he appeared in the second session to share ACE’s views on the subject. The session was streamed live and can be replayed on the Parliament TV website. In March, transport secretary Chris Grayling MP announced that Network Rail would be looking at market-led proposals for enhancements to the rail network, highlighting the potential of projects such as the southern link to Heathrow Airport. In related news, ACE also responded to short time period offered to respondents Responding to the news, ACE chief the Office of Rail and Road consultation to the of the £47.9bn plan highlighting executive, Nelson Ogunshakin, said: “We’re on Network Rail’s upcoming control that it: “isn’t the way to engage delighted that our calls for increased period (CP6 which runs between 2019 stakeholders, nor to produce robust and investment through complementary and 2024). With only 14 working days properly thought-through plans.” private funding have been heard. There is a given to examine the nearly 1,800-page Members interested in shaping huge opportunity for market-led proposals document, ACE focused its efforts on a ACE’s output in this area and joining to unlock rail projects which will improve high-level overview, rather than detailed the rail group can contact James frequency, capacity and connectivity across and technical feedback. Robertson directly: the rail network.” In its response, ACE was critical of the [email protected] Progress as network expands to devolved nations ACE’s group for emerging industry leaders holds events networking event including a quiz at the iconic Dark Horse pub in the Cathedral in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, writes Anil Iyer. Quarter in Belfast (pictured above). Progress Network Cymru | Wales CE’s group for emerging industry and Northern Ireland. The network now launched on 14 March with an event in leaders, the ACE Progress has six groups representing different Cardiff. Attendees discussed the priority ANetwork, has made some areas across the United Kingdom. areas for the National Infrastructure significant steps forward recently with Progress Network Northern Ireland Commission for Wales with the deputy the launch of groups in Scotland, Wales launched on 1 February with an informal director for infrastructure delivery at the

26 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 27

There is huge potential for reverse mentoring in our industry. It can help at an Reverse mentoring operational level and encourage the uptake of new technology and ideas, but it also has the capacity to help with career pilot concludes progression for the emerging generation of employees and can help us to bridge the industry’s skills gap. We found that our A cross-sector pilot has “smashed unconscious bias”, pilot had strengthened participant writes Rebecca Wooding of ACE’s Progress Network. companies, allowed leaders to look at their organisations in new ways and had ike all the best ideas, reverse completely smashed pre-existing mentoring is a simple concept. unconscious bias. LTurning the traditional mentoring The full findings from ACE’s nine-month model on its head, experienced colleagues reverse mentoring pilot will be presented are mentored by members of staff from at the upcoming Skills Summit on 6 June either a younger generation, background 2018 at Marriott Grosvenor Square, or experience. London. A report with recommendations While many schemes focus on will also be produced to help other generational issues, such as differing companies interested in introducing their understanding of technology and emerging own reverse mentoring programmes. business trends, reverse mentoring can also BWB, Mott MacDonald, Peter Brett be used to help companies break through Associates, Max Fordham, Tony Gee and Rebecca Wooding is vice-chair of the Progress unconscious bias, reduce discrimination WSP shared their experiences with the Network, ACE’s group for emerging industry and positively improve workplace diversity wider group over the period. leaders. in terms of gender, ethnicity or age. Unlike in a conventional mentoring scheme there is mutual benefit to both the mentor and mentee. Whilst the mentee European CIO Conference learns new skills and perspectives, the mentor gains valuable insights into he second European CIO technologies with clients across the globe. company culture, business strategy and can conference takes place on 20 June Other sessions will feature speakers tap into years of industry experience. All T2018 at the Royal Academy of from international sector leaders are key skills and knowledge for Engineering, Prince Phillip House, including CMD Smith, Dar Group, Mott strengthening and diversifying the future London. The two-day event brings MacDonald, Multiconsult, Ramboll and of the work place. together the sector’s IT leaders with WSP. Clients and technology providers A nine-month reverse mentoring pilot, experts from the world of technology to will also discuss the issues from their which has just concluded, brought together discuss the major issues facing the sector, perspective, while breakout sessions will 11 pairings across seven ACE member including digitisation, big data, and their allow attendees to drill down to topics of companies. The participants from Arcadis, impact in changing business models. particular interest. Bentley Systems are the founder In between the full programme, there sponsors of this conference, alongside are ample opportunities for networking Welsh Assembly, Andy Falleyn. BST Global. and a VIP evening dinner will take place at Finally, on 24 April, Progress Network The keynote speaker is Eric Charran, Le Balcon in St James’. This two-day Scotland organised an informal “pre- chief architect of data and artificial conference is a must-attend for c-suite launch” networking event at Brodies in intelligence at Microsoft. He will explore executives working in IT and digital Glasgow. The event galvanised interest in the innovative technologies powering delivery for large-scale infrastructure Scotland before a more substantial full the digital transformation and share his projects. launch event later this year. experiences of artificial and ambient Tickets for this year’s European CIO Progress provides the opportunity to intelligence, machine learning, advanced conference are available now from establish a strong network across the analytics and implementing these www.acecio.co.uk sector, share views and ideas, develop new skills and hear from influential organisations and people in the industry. Members are early career professionals in the industry across the full range of disciplines, including: civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, lawyers, architects, accountants, project managers, cost consultants and more. The Progress Network is enabled by ACE but managed by its members. Those interested in joining are encouraged to get in touch at [email protected].

Anil Iyer is chief operating officer at ACE.

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 27 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 28

ACE news

indemnity, fitness-for-purpose, parent guarantees and the allocation of risk to Lasting reform needs companies that are poorly suited to deal with it. Finally, we need to have access to the right skills in our sector to turn this practical solutions new innovative approach into reality. We must embrace this vanguard of change to Only tangible ideas shared with a unified voice will secure a sustainable business sector. These are topics that will no doubt come deliver post-Carillion reform and a sustainable to the fore at ACE’s upcoming major model for all, writes Nelson Ogunshakin. events. The second European CIO Conference and our inaugural Skills n my last column, I shared my process, will help deliver a robust and Summit, both taking place in June 2018, perspective on the demise of Carillion sustainable business model for all. will touch on these issues and provide an Iand its impact on our industry. As well An enlightened approach to opportunity for the industry to discuss how as expressing my disappointment to see procurement calls for a quality-based technology and skills will both be vital to an iconic household name with a long tendering process, a reappraisal of the solving this industry conundrum and and proud history collapse, I set out a notion of “value for money”, as well as the seeing the emergence of a healthier vision for a major debate on the future adoption of new or emerging technologies business model. direction for the industry. I received such as digital design, BIM, artificial As the Brexit negotiations reach their many positive comments following intelligence, offsite construction and conclusion over the coming months, we publication. My call for a reappraisal of blockchain. should be ready to re-engage government our broken industry model seems to have We need to also look at risk with clear calls to action, tangible resonated with many of ACE’s members management and the unnecessary demand proposals and a unified voice across project and more broadly from a range of for inappropriate levels of professional promoters, delivery agencies, professional industry stakeholders. consultancy and engineering companies, The magnitude of Carillion’s downfall “While the collapse of tier one and two contractors and product is such that it must reframe our thinking suppliers. and our engagement. Its fall impacts on Carillion shone a brief media ACE members pride themselves on the market, political landscape and as a and political spotlight on designing and creating solutions in their business association, on ACE’s output and day-to-day work for their clients. We need initiatives. As an industry we have to issues such as exposure in the to make sure that our whole industry move beyond “business as usual” to a state supply chain, levels of risk, applies its considerable intellectual muscle of more proactive thinking, agile to perhaps the biggest challenge of all – operations and industry-wide contract retention clauses ensuring a sustainable business model for collaborative engagement. and protection of SMEs, we every stakeholder. The immediate aftermath has seen key public-sector clients such as the NHS, are yet to see any real change Dr Nelson Ogunshakin OBE is the chief executive of Highways England, Ministry of Defence, in approach.” the Association for Consultancy and Engineering. Network Rail, HS2 and Transport for London, to mention a few, stepping in to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum and on-going contracts are honoured. Sadly, we have also seen a number of redundancies across projects as budgets are reassessed. We still do not know, nor can we quantify the impact in the longer- term on the project pipeline, nor how government will engage with the industry on new infrastructure spending. While the collapse of Carillion shone a brief media and political spotlight on issues such as exposure in the supply chain, appropriate levels of risk, contract retention clauses and protection of SMEs, we are yet to see any real change in approach. It is for this reason that ACE will be working with its members and clients to put forward ideas on an improved procurement process and will engage other industry bodies to reach cross-sector consensus. I strongly believe that providing the government with clear answers and ideas, coupled with greater understanding of the supply chain and procurement

28 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 04/05/2018 10:11 Page 29

EIC news

Could the environmental technology industry cope with large-scale retrofitting of diesel engines?

UK companies can produce retrofit exhaust treatment systems such as this for buses. Why the environmental sector needs a project pipeline The infrastructure sector has come a long way in getting government to recognise the need for a steady pipeline of projects. The environmental technology sector needs to get better at doing the same, says Matthew Farrow. ue to EIC’s links to ACE, I am often packaged in chassis in different ways, all of of maintenance and repairs of the filter an interested observer at ACE which means that bespoke R+D can be systems). Dconferences and events, and am required to develop and fine tune a system Compare that to now, when in London well aware of the importance that the so that it delivers consistent real-world the Ultra Low Emission Zone is less than a infrastructure industry places on having a performance – all of which must then be year away, some 30 English and Welsh ‘pipeline’ of projects. The problems of ‘feast accredited at a testing centre which may be cities are being told to implement Clean and famine’ have become well-known, in overbooked. Air Zones, and the Scottish Government, terms of retaining skills, attracting Most of the companies in this niche not to be outdone, is rolling out its own investors and the like. And in no small part sector are medium-sized manufacturing Low Emission Zone scheme. Depending on due to the work of ACE, the government firms, often family-owned. They tend not to the details of each scheme, and whether machine now appears to understand this. have huge financial resources and don’t they include HGVs and coaches as well as The sequencing of Crossrail, HS2 and then find it easy either to weather several years buses, orders for tens of thousands of Crossrail 2 is a step forward. of low demand, or to suddenly scale up if systems could be coming, which the This problem though is also found in half the freight industry comes asking for a industry would struggle to deal with. many of the environmental sectors that EIC low emission fix. And yet this is exactly If, instead, the various government members work in. Take for example the what often happens. players had co-ordinated and set out a long- companies that develop and manufacture In the mid-2000’s as the Low Emission term strategy of cleaning up heavy retrofit exhaust treatment systems for Zone (LEZ) in London came into force and vehicles, this could have been the basis of diesel engines. a government-funded Clean Bus steady growth in an innovative, UK-based This SCR/DPF technology can bring an Technology Fund was created to support manufacturing sector which has huge old Euro IV bus or truck right up to Euro VI bus retrofit in other cities, order books overseas demand. Isn’t that just what the standards in terms of cutting NOx and were good. But for several years air government’s industrial strategy is particulate emissions. Clever technology, pollution dropped down the agenda, and supposed to be encouraging? and an area where the UK has strong there was less business (the lack of Of course, this sort of un-joined up expertise, but in reality, the demand for effective enforcement of the LEZ also government is nothing new, but that doesn’t this piece of environmental kit (each one of meant little in the way of an aftermarket make it any less frustrating when it happens. which costs several thousands of pounds) is The infrastructure sector has come a long almost entirely dependent on regulation – way in getting government to recognise the bus and fleet companies will not pay for “Demand for this piece of kit need for a steady pipeline of projects – in the them unless they have to, not least because environmental technology sector we need to retrofit systems also make engines slightly is almost entirely dependent get better at doing the same. less fuel efficient. on regulation – bus and fleet It’s also worth noting that truck and bus Matthew Farrow is director of the Environmental engines are complex beasts, coming in companies will not pay for Industries Commission, the leading trade body for many different types and variants, and them unless they have to.” environmental firms.

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 29 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 30

Sport and leisure Creating a lasting legacy from sporting infrastructure Following the Commonwealth Games, Mace’s Simon Dale looks at how sporting infrastructure can provide a lasting legacy for cities and the local communities. irmingham City Council leader Ian Ward first announced his intention Bto host the Commonwealth Games 15 years ago. Now Birmingham has secured the 2022 event, councilor Ward has set the city the lofty ambition of hosting the best Commonwealth Games ever. In addition to that bold aspiration we also need to make sure the games create the greatest possible legacy for Birmingham, the West Midlands, British sport and specifically UK Athletics. During the 2018 Commonwealth Games, it is estimated that more than two billion people saw the new £80m stadium in the Gold Coast, which afterwards will How a transformed become the home of the Gold Coast Suns Alexander Stadium in Aussie Rules side. Birmingham will look. Through Mace’s experience of delivering the Aquatics Centre and the Britain has won in the past decade, Mo By 2017, in the three years it has been stadium for the London 2012 Olympics, Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill account for open to the public, the London Aquatics the transformation of Hampden Park for nine of them. While at the London 2017 Centre had welcomed more than 2.5 the 2014 Commonwealth Games as well as World Athletic Championships, Mo Farah, million visitors. At this Olympics-grade the City of Manchester Stadium for the won Britain's only individual medal. facility, Mace delivered an iconic, world- 2002 Commonwealth Games, we know A world class athletics facility is needed class venue that genuinely sits at the heart that first and foremost every sporting to provide a catalyst for change and create of the local community - a sporting facility venue needs to provide a lasting legacy for a platform for excellence in the way that used for school, club, regional and national the local people who share their the Manchester Veldrome has for British galas and meets throughout the year. More community with the stadium. Cycling and the Institute for National than 14,000 people visit on an average each Venues being commissioned for the Football at Clairefontaine has delivered for week, making the most of the two 50m 2022 Commonwealth Games must be the French national football team. swimming pools, dive pool and gym as well created with their after-life in mind, once The need to create facilities which cater as the café. they have finished hosting 11 days of for both elite athletes and the local We know from our work transforming world class sport. One of the keys to that is community is certainly a challenge but by leisure facilities across England that high- designing and delivering venues which no means an impossible one. Gyms and quality facilities need to be put in place to incorporate facilities the community can changing rooms which serve both markets drive footfall. Not only does this create a themselves use, once they have been can be cleverly incorporated into designs in sporting and community legacy but also an inspired by watching the sporting action various combinations while the trade-off economic one. The 20 leisure centres we’ve unfold on their doorstep. between the needs of spectators and needs delivered over the past 12 years are not When transforming the Alexander of the community can be tackled in the only generating £16m of additional income Stadium, which will host the Birmingham design of the planned decommissioning of for local authorities each year, but they are Games, there is an additional need to the stadium. estimated to have saved the NHS around consider. As the home of UK Athletics the £115m over that time with a healthier Alexander Stadium needs to be configured “Mace delivered the population making fewer hospital visits. to the needs of elite athletes and can only In addition to delivering the greatest be considered a true success if it creates a London Aquatics ever Commonwealth Games, Birmingham long-term legacy for British athletics for Centre –an iconic, 2022 must create the greatest possible years to come. legacy for the local community and equip UK Sport as a whole has thrived at the world-class venue the Alexander Stadium so that it provides a past two Olympics, but apart from the that sits at the heart springboard from which we can usher in a continued performance of a couple of new golden era for UK athletics. exceptional sportspeople, UK Athletics has of the local underachieved. Of the 14 world titles community.” Simon Dale is director of the Midlands at Mace.

30 Infrastructure Intelligence | May/June 2018 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 31

Technology Innovation and technology will help unlock the future Combining new delivery models and the smart use of technology can usher in a more productive future for the construction industry, says AECOM’s Richard Robinson. supply chain to meet the client’s key success factors. A more honest dialogue around risk is needed, with suppliers providing greater transparency around the true nature of risk in their schemes and infrastructure owners willing to take on risks they are better positioned to manage themselves. Well-designed and performance-based partnership models that are incentivised to deliver the best for the project and client are crucial. It’s about getting the basics right – robust project setup; streamlined governance; and continuous stakeholder buy-in. Next in the two-pronged approach is the use of digital tools. These can bring efficiencies in each individual service line as Adopting new well as enable the full power of an integrated technology and best approach. Enhanced and automated value practices are vital. engineering to create a more buildable and operable asset is just one example. t’s no secret that the delivery of critical buyers get inefficiency, often resulting in For example, virtual reality (VR) solutions infrastructure assets is crucial to a delayed projects and poor-quality assets, and have the potential to merge separate delivery Icountry’s economic growth and the suppliers struggle to survive financially. This phases by offering an interactive and easily wellbeing of communities. Yet around the is even though there are several tools and accessible digital design model. AECOM has world, infrastructure issues such as highway approaches available to produce a positive used this technique on projects as diverse as congestion and unreliable rail networks transformation in the delivery of major the Wessex Capacity project at Waterloo and continue to persist. infrastructure projects. We need to the Serpentine Pavilion in Hyde Park, The 500 industry professionals surveyed effectively learn lessons from the past, to enabling us to deliver schemes more in AECOM’s recently published Future of build a new industry dynamic. efficiently than ever before. Infrastructure report say they have suffered A two-step approach to solving the Other digital tools that are growing in significant yet avoidable delays on 40% of productivity issue is needed, which firstly impact include artificial intelligence that recent projects. This could be a thing of the sets up projects to incorporate a more replaces repetitive manual tasks and past if a combination of technology and integrated approach, linking across the life provides a more reliable outcome. This alternative delivery is adopted, both key to cycle of an asset and reducing total cost of enables new construction techniques such as tackling the productivity issue and ownership. This would also create assets that the use of modular construction, 3D printing accelerating much-needed projects. are more constructible and fit for purpose. and increased use of robotics. Asset Currently, many infrastructure projects Secondly, using digital tools to unlock the full intelligence is also on the up. are slowed down due to inefficient and power of this integrated approach. The volume of data and the ability to outdated project delivery methods that lead To achieve the first objective, breaking effectively analyse and draw conclusions is to delays and schemes that run over time and down the familiar approach of plan, design, taking a step change when AI and other data budget. The effect on the UK economy is build, operate and maintain will be key. mining techniques are coupled with today’s damaging, with the cumulative impact of Infrastructure organisations should seek to computing power. This allows new tools to stalled projects during 2015-16 alone align all objectives and rewards across the capture and analyse performance data to projected to dent investment-related GDP to drive more efficient operations and truly feed the tune of £35bn. “AECOM has used back into future designs. There are many reasons for a drag on After years of industry wrestling with the productivity, but one important issue we virtual reality productivity gap, the time has come to fully found in our Future of Infrastructure report was solutions on projects embrace innovation. We now have the keys limited adoption of new technology and best to unlock the future – and they lie in the practices. Worryingly, the report found that to deliver schemes combination of new delivery models and the only 56% of industry professionals consider more efficiently smart use of technology. themselves “good” at adopting and scaling innovative delivery models. than ever Richard Robinson is the chief operating officer at This all results in a domino effect where before.” AECOM.

May/June 2018 | Infrastructure Intelligence 31 ii30-may-june2018.qxp_print 03/05/2018 16:25 Page 32

6 JUNE 2018 Marriott Grosvenor Square, London

Reserve your tables and places now before we sell out

BOOK NOW AT: ace-engineering-awards.co.uk

#CandE2018 020 7222 6557 [email protected]