Welcome to the Friday Feed, our rundown of this week’s construction news
🚉 Rail
Rail services through Somerset have resumed after major upgrade work over the Easter weekend. Network Rail engineers replaced 1.4 kilometres of track, along with over a thousand sleepers and thousands of tonnes of ballast at East Somerset Junction, with some infrastructure dating back to the 1960s. The work finished ahead of schedule, allowing trains to run again from April 7, and is expected to provide smoother, more reliable journeys.
In other rail news, HS2 has recorded more than 2,300 near-miss incidents over the past four years, according to new data. A serious incident in September saw a beam strike a crane basket carrying two workers in west London, prompting a temporary halt to some works while safety procedures were reviewed.
🛫Ports and Aviation
DP World’s London Gateway terminal has launched a £36 million tender for major construction works to deliver a new high bay automated storage system for empty containers, known as Boxbay. The project will create a large vertical storage facility within the existing port, measuring over 300 metres long and rising to around 55 metres high. Work will take place while the terminal remains operational and includes extensive groundwork. Meanwhile, Port Talbot in South Wales is set to become the first port in the Celtic Sea dedicated to floating offshore wind, following up to £64 million in government funding. The investment will allow Associated British Ports to carry out key design and engineering work, unlocking up to 4.5 gigawatts of wind power; enough to supply around 6.5 million homes. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and attract over £500 million in further investment, while taking advantage of stronger, more consistent winds in deeper waters to boost the UK’s renewable energy capacity.
⚡Energy
Ireland has the potential to generate up to 37GW of offshore renewable energy by 2050 , positioning it for major economic and energy transformation, particularly through floating offshore wind. However, the key challenge is not ambition but delivery, with significant gaps in port infrastructure, investment and coordination currently holding progress back
for a new framework covering the installation of high voltage cable circuits across its UK network. The contracts will include design, installation, testing and commissioning of 66kV and 132kV cables, with possible extension to lower voltages and telecoms ducts. The framework will run from May 2026 to 2027, with a potential extension to 2028, and requires contractors to manage everything from engineering design to street works coordination and stakeholder engagement. Bidding closes at the end of April, with successful firms expected to deliver projects on a case by case basis.
đźš— Roads
Kier starts work on ÂŁ700m Norfolk Highways contract for Norfolk County Council, set to run for up to 14 years and covering nearly 10,000 kilometres of roads. The project includes maintenance, resurfacing, drainage, bridge repairs and routine works like grass cutting. Around 100 staff have transferred to Kier from the previous contractor, and the partnership aims to improve local roads while creating jobs, supporting skills development and introducing new technologies.
In other news on roads, won major roundabouts on the A12 in East Suffolk have opened, improving access to the Sizewell C nuclear power station site, which is expected to employ up to 8,000 workers at peak. The upgrades replace older, congested junctions and provide safer, smoother connections to the A1094 and B1122, helping reduce traffic and improve journeys for local residents and businesses. While the roundabouts are now in use, final finishing and landscaping work will continue over the coming months.
🏠Property and development
Guildmore has won a £60 million contract to redevelop St George’s Leisure Centre in Tower Hamlets. The project will deliver a brand-new leisure facility alongside an eight-storey residential block with 29 homes, as well as landscaping and public realm improvements. Guildmore was selected ahead of competitors Morgan Sindall and Chalegrove Properties, and the contract includes demolition of the existing leisure centre through to full construction of the new complex.
In other news, AFC Bournemouth has announced plans to begin major redevelopment work this summer at Vitality Stadium, aiming to nearly double capacity from around 11,300 to just over 20,000 seats. Initial works, subject to final approvals, will take place during the off-season and include demolishing and rebuilding the South Stand, adding a new lower tier, infilling stadium corners, relocating turnstiles, and upgrading hospitality and media facilities. The first phase will add over 1,500 seats in time for the 2026/27 season, with further expansion continuing into 2027 to reach full capacity, marking the most significant redevelopment in the stadium’s history.
đź’§Water
Anglian Water has announced a £1.6 billion investment starting this month as part of a wider £11 billion plan running to 2030, aimed at improving infrastructure, supporting regional growth, and tackling the impacts of climate change in the East of England. The programme includes replacing over 1,100 kilometres of water mains to reduce leaks and improve reliability, alongside major upgrades to storm overflow systems, with £269 million set to be spent in 2026, including the construction of 35 new storm tanks to prevent pollution during heavy rainfall. So far, £1.1 billion has already been invested, with more than 1,000 projects underway and 500 more due to begin from April. Overall, the investment is designed to strengthen the region’s water system, protect the environment, and ensure a reliable supply for the future.
In other news, Severn Trent Water has launched a tender for a framework worth up to ÂŁ1.2 billion covering tunnelling, drilling and shaft works across England and Wales. The agreement will run from September 2026 to September 2038, with the option to extend it to March 2041., The framework is divided into two main lots, where contractors will either act as principal contractor or take on both design and construction roles.
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