South: CECA calls for early engagement in infrastructure projects

Civil engineering contractors in the south and South East are calling for early industry engagement in the infrastructure projects unveiled by government to enable local companies to invest in appropriate skills and innovation. 

Alan Taylor, executive director of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) for the south and South East, welcomed the recent announcements, but highlighted the role of industry in bringing the plans to fruition and ensuring cost-effective project delivery.

Taylor commented: “Our members have been pushing for greater certainty around infrastructure investment for many years and we now look forward to advising government on the practicalities that will ensure value-for-money in delivery. However, this can only happen if all parties agree to stick to these spending commitments. Indeed the newly-announced industrial strategy, Construction 2025, will go some way to ensuring that the Government works closer with the construction industry and sector stakeholders over the coming years.”

Among the projects earmarked for long-term capital investment in the south and South East are:

• M4 J3-12 London to Reading managed motorway scheme
• M23 J8-10 managed motorway scheme near Gatwick
• Managed motorway schemes on the M20 J3-5 Maidstone, M27 J4-11 and the M3 J9-14 near Southampton
• A21 upgrade Tonbridge to Pembury
• A27 Chichester Bypass improvements
• M20 J10a
• A2 at Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction
• Lower Thames Crossing
• East-West rail project from Oxford to Bedford, via Milton Keynes and Aylesbury
• Upgrade Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
• Rebuilding 27 schools in poor condition as part of the Priority School Building Programme.

Taylor added: “We have been calling for some time for extra investment in roads and rail and greater certainty in the Government’s energy policy and, without doubt, the projects earmarked will deliver true regional benefit. However, this should been seen only as first steps, because there are many equally-valuable projects that need to be tackled. Our hope is that the regional LEPs will combine their resources to bid for the pot of money being allocated by government for local projects.”