{"id":491197,"date":"2024-01-04T10:45:03","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T10:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=491197"},"modified":"2024-01-04T10:45:03","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T10:45:03","slug":"10-projects-to-watch-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/sections\/long-reads\/10-projects-to-watch-in-2024-04-01-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"10 projects to watch in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Which projects are likely to have the biggest impact on the industry in the year ahead? Keith Cooper reports<\/b><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Houses of Parliament<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Politicians and construction firms alike are standing by for more details on the beleaguered Palace of Westminster restoration.<\/p>\n

After more than 7,500 hours of surveys being carried out in recent years, better-informed options for development will be presented to parliamentarians amid predictions of an eye-watering price tag. The estimated bill has been heading ever upwards, from \u00a33.5bn\u00a0 in 2015 to \u00a313bn in 2022. Two development options are due to be unveiled this year, with another year of debate possible before costed proposals follow in 2025.<\/p>\n

Last May, chair of the Public Accounts Committee Meg Hillier warned of a \u201creal risk\u201d that the Grade I-listed buildings will be \u201cdestroyed\u201d after \u201cyears of procrastination\u201d.Meanwhile, contractors are being sought to complete \u00a3750m of separate work just to keep Parliament upright, with a formal procurement process to be launched in the coming months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Thames Tideway<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Tideway super-sewer is due to collect its first sewage from Londoners during a test phase this summer, a decade after the project was given the planning green light. <\/span><\/p>\n

This makes it a momentous and testing year for Tideway, the company set up by a consortium of investors to deliver the 25km-long tunnel.<\/p>\n

Tideway is expected to take 95 per cent of sewage overflows in the capital instead of them spilling into the Thames. The cost of this megaproject has soared to \u00a34.50bn from the initial estimate of \u00a33.52bn but it has so far remained within projections set in 2015. <\/span><\/p>\n

The formal handover of Tideway to Thames Water after the testing phase is not expected until late 2025. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Schools<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The fate of the UK\u2019s stock of crumbling schools hangs in the balance in 2024. Even before the RAAC crisis hit, schools were contending with an \u00a311.4bn repairs backlog. Capital investment in the estate only began rising in 2022\/23 after a 46 per cent real-terms fall since 2009\/10.<\/p>\n

No one is any the wiser about how much it will cost to fix RAAC as it is found in more and more schools. What\u2019s more certain is that the issue will be a battleground in the next election. Labour\u2019s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has already nailed her colours to the mast by accusing the government of letting \u201cschool roofs crumble\u201d. Given the political heat, we can expect more money for refurbishment projects from the next government, whichever party wins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Gigafactories<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The market for high-value gigafactories looks set to grab further attention this year.<\/p>\n

On the positive side, there is the promise of a \u00a34bn investment by India-based Tata Sons in a new Somerset facility. The government-backed battery factory, unveiled last July, is expected to begin production in 2026.<\/p>\n

Wates has also predicted a positive outlook for the market after completing \u00a3100m of work on a Sunderland gigafactory (pictured) for client AESC. Wates chief executive Eoghan O\u2019Lionaird said the firm hopes to win more work from AESC, which plans to triple its production capacity in the UK.<\/p>\n

On a less positive note, the rescue of collapsed car-battery firm Britishvolt remains in trouble. Recharge Industries, the Australian firm that pledged to buy the company, had still not made the final payment on its proposed \u00a38.6m buyout deal last August, according to a progress report that month by administrator EY. The payment had been due on 5 April and remained unpaid at the time of writing.<\/p>\n

\n

Road programmes<\/h3>\n

\"Smart<\/p>\n

There could be a major change in investment in England\u2019s highways this year if a proposed switch in focus towards urgent repair of the ageing motorway network goes ahead. The shift was signalled last May by the Strategic Road Network Initial Report<\/i> by National Highways.<\/p>\n

The report was published a month after the government cancelled plans for 15 smart motorways because of cost pressures and poor public confidence. The Department for Transport\u2019s revised investment blueprint, due for publication this year, will be known as Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3), covering 2025 to 2030. If National Highways\u2019 advice is followed, RIS3 will support smaller, local projects to ease congestion and improve safety.<\/p>\n

Previous National Highways strategies have come under fire for overambition leading to overspending and underdelivery, according to House of Commons transport select committee chair Iain Stewart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Everton Stadium<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The new stadium for Everton FC is due to be completed in 2024 but issues around it remain as the Premier League club struggles with financial and football-related difficulties.<\/p>\n

The \u00a3555m project faces police and Health and Safety Executive probes into the death of ventilation engineer Michael Jones, following an accident at the site in August.<\/p>\n

The Toffees are reported by the BBC and other national media as facing a serious financial crisis unless a planned takeover by US investment firm 777 Partners goes ahead.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, the club is also being investigated by the Premier League for alleged breaches of its profit and sustainability rules, which the club denies.<\/p>\n

If a 10-point deduction is not overturned, Everton is at high risk of relegation this season. Its supporters and stadium main contractor Laing O\u2019Rourke will be hoping luck is on their side.<\/p>\n

\n

1 Undershaft<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The 73-storey 1 Undershaft is already planned to become the tallest tower in the City of London, but it will rise by another floor if a new blueprint is approved this year.<\/p>\n

A revised design by Eric Parry Architects proposes a 305 metre-high skyscraper to replace the existing 1960s Aviva Tower.<\/p>\n

Contractors with enough mettle to take on this giant should get the chance to vie for the job from Singapore-based client Aroland Holdings this year.<\/p>\n

The modified plan is expected to be submitted for planning approval with the City of London Corporation. The project team for 1 Undershaft also includes development manager Stanhope, landscape architect SLA, planning consultant DP9, engineer WSP and quantity surveyor Aecom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Google HQ<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s \u00a31bn \u2018groundscraper\u2019 HQ in London\u2019s King\u2019s Cross is due for completion this year by main contractor Lendlease. The one million square foot building is designed to accommodate 4,000 staff, though how that now fits
\nwith the tech giant\u2019s plan to make 10,000 people redundant worldwide remains
\nan open question at the start of 2024.<\/p>\n

The ground floor of the building was redesigned in 2022 to include retail units, a market hall for small businesses and a community, education and event space.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we transition to flexible, hybrid work, we\u2019re introducing new workplace technologies and collaboration spaces to keep our teams connected wherever they\u2019re working,\u201d Google said at the time.<\/p>\n

The original plan was submitted in 2017 with Argent as the lead developer.<\/p>\n

\n

Viking CCS<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A proposed facility from Harbour Energy and BP in the Humber region could take a big leap forward in 2024 if the government delivers on pledges to invest in carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Viking CCS is one of two facilities \u201cbest-placed\u201d to meet ministers\u2019 ambition of creating world-class network low-carbon CCUS industrial clusters across the UK, the government has said. The government allotted \u00a31bn to its Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure Fund in the 2020 budget and detailed engagement with bidders has taken place throughout 2023.<\/p>\n

Harbour Energy claims the facility would create 10,000 jobs in construction, unlock \u00a37bn of investment and add \u00a34bn to the economy of the Humber region. If the government\u2019s investment decision falls in its favour, the facility could be operational within three years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

HS2<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It will be quite a year for HS2 as it picks up the pieces from the amputation of its northern leg. With an election possible in 2024, the debate on where the high-speed rail project ends will inevitably turn political before getting real. Prime minister Rishi Sunak\u2019s idea that the private sector will pay for the segment from Old Oak Common (pictured) to Euston has already been condemned as \u201cverging on fantasy\u201d by Labour\u2019s London mayor Sadiq Khan.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, councils along the axed northern leg have started pursuing the government for compensation after pouring their own money into the project.<\/p>\n

More optimistically, HS2 Ltd stated last October that the still-active London-to-Birmingham phase of the project has moved into an \u201cexciting new stage\u201d with a focus on putting down signals and tracks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which projects are likely to have the biggest impact on the industry in the year ahead? Keith Cooper reports Houses of Parliament Politicians and construction firms alike are standing by for more details on the beleaguered Palace of Westminster restoration. After more than 7,500 hours of surveys being carried out in recent years, better-informed options …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":491175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[547,549,552,565,39314,559],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n