Cracking start to 2008

We've enjoyed an extremely positive start to 2008 with a string of new contract wins.

Our Site Investigation team has secured a three-year framework agreement with ENTEC UK to undertake investigation works on its behalf. The majority of the work will be on potentially contaminated sites across the UK, including former gas sites and Ministry of Defence (MoD) land.

The award follows the development of a very successful working relationship with ENTEC over the last three years, on shorter one-year agreements.

Andrew Ramsden, General Manager Geotechnical Services, said: "This framework offers an excellent opportunity for us to further develop our relationship with Entec, and to provide a greater range of services than previously."

The first work under the new term commenced with two contracts running consecutively in early January. Further similar contracts on MoD land are expected shortly.

The highlights of several new business wins by the Piling team are three contracts with a value of more than £1m each, which will run concurrently.

The first contract, at Creek Road in London for Telford Homes, involves the installation of a secant piled wall around the perimeter of the site with a retained height of up to seven metres. A total of 940 piles, with diameters between 600mm and 900mm, will form an interlocking wall to enable the construction of a large underground car park.

The second contract, for Durkan Ltd, is also in London - adjacent to the O2 (Millennium Dome). This contract involves installing more than 1500 continuous flight auger piles of 450mm and 600mm diameter to depths between 12 and 19 metres.

The third contract, at Eldon Square in Newcastle for Sir Robert McAlpine, involves the installation of 700 continuous flight auger load-bearing piles. These piles have diameters between 600mm and 1200mm and will be installed to depths up to 20 metres.