Hinkley Point nuclear plant gets final approval

Aaron Morby 12 years ago
Share

The Government today gave the final go-ahead for Britain’s first new nuclear power plant for a generation at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

French-owned energy giant EDF is leading the consortium building the £16bn nuclear power station with significant financial backing from China.

The deal will see the Government guarantee to pay a strike price for electricity which is nearly double today’s going wholesale rate.

The move will bring to an end over a year of delay, which has left contractors with teams on stand-by to mobilise.

Anna Stewart, Group Chief Executive for Laing O’Rourke, said: “This is a pivotal moment for the UK construction industry as we move forward with EDF towards mobilisation and the start of work on site.”

“Hinkley Point C will open up a myriad of opportunities for employment, new skills and training, and engagement with the supply chain across the UK, but especially in the South West of England.“

Once a Final Investment Decision is announced by EDF, contractors will move swiftly to establish site teams and commence work.

The new plant, scheduled to open in 10 years’ time, will employ 25,000 people during its construction with 5,500 at peak.

The workforce will be housed in three campus sites with also offices for around 1,000 engineers and contractors.

EDF Energy and the principal contractors Laing O’Rourke/Bouygues have signed a Common Framework Agreement enshrining direct employment for workers on site.

It also sets a minimum craft rate of £13 an hour for civil engineering work and bonus payments to establish the job as the best-paid site in the UK.

Some 5 Tier One contracts have been let subject to contract a further 145 are to come.


Hinkley Point procurement

hinkley

Civils contracts so far

      • Laing O’Rourke and Bouygues main civils build contract worth £2bn
      • Bam Nuttall and Kier has bagged the £100m earthworks contract
      • Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering the £30m job to build a temporary 500m jetty for construction materials to be shipped in.
      • Costain today sealed £250m marine works contract for three tunnels to channel seawater in and out of the plant.

Ancillary Buildings

      • The first package of this work is awaiting the issue of the invitation to tender, expected now during 2014.

Associated developments
Preferred bidders will be announced soon.

      • Campus Accommodation
      • Park & Rides
      • Combwich Wharf upgrades 
      • Cannington Bypass
      • Highways Improvements – Some of the highway improvement works have been started by Aggregate Industries (Bardon).

Other contracts

    • Main Electrical Erection – Tenders out early 2014 – ECI work expected late 2014
    • Small Power and Lighting – Tenders out 2014
    • BNI Mechanical Installation – Stage 1 tenders reviews in progress. ECI work to commence in Q4 2013.
    • HVAC supply and install – Tenders due out late 2013. ECI work expected 2014
    • Various Electrical Equipment – Tenders out 2014/2015
    • NSSS Design – Design work underway on Nuclear Steam Supply System – AREVA has been selected as the delivery partner for this package.
    • Main Turbines – Preferred bidder to be announced late 2013. ECI work to commence in Q4 2013.

Land area of and energy output from Hinkley Point C compared to other energy production sites.
DECC_Infographic_Hinkley-point-C_final

Latest news

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
15 hours ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
22 hours ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
22 hours ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
22 hours ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
2 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
22 hours ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
22 hours ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
1 day ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
2 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
2 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
2 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
3 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
3 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
2 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
3 days ago

Major Building Safety Regulator shake-up to end tower delays

HSE stripped of control and top fire chiefs brought in to fast-track stalled schemes
3 days ago

Hinkley trio sign Sizewell civils deal

Balfour,Bouygues and Laing O'Rourke form Civil Works Alliance for new power station
3 days ago

£3.9bn data centre plan for Ravenscraig steelworks

Green energy to power massive new steel to silicon AI campus
3 days ago

Breakthrough on HS2’s second longest tunnel

8.4 mile Northolt to Old Oak Common drive completes
3 days ago

Neilcott on fast-track to debt-free employee ownership

£22.5m loan nearly paid down after big profit year
3 days ago

TfL kicks off race for £700m Tube station upgrade

South Kensington and Elephant & Castle top the pipeline list
3 days ago

Corbyn Plant Hire fleet goes under the hammer

Kit to be sold off by sister firm to collapsed groundworks contractor
3 days ago

Government wields procurement stick on late payment

New rules would block slow payers from bidding on big public jobs
6 days ago

Hercules buys power line labour firm for £15.7m

Labour supply specialist snaps up Advantage NRG to tap booming electricity upgrade market
6 days ago

Universal bid to fast-track planning for theme park

Entertainment giant eyes 2026 start at Bedford site
6 days ago

Developer Breck to transform former Ibstock brick factory

Ravenhead works to become 300-home development
6 days ago

SP Energy Networks awards contracts worth £1.4bn

First round of awards under £5.4bn national electricity grid upgrade programme
7 days ago

Travelodge to convert Liverpool Street office building

Office-to-hotel conversion in City of London
6 days ago

Plans lodged for 1m sq ft City of London office

Barbican landmark building will reuse 40% of existing structure
7 days ago

PTSG acquires roofing specialist HD Sharman Group

Premier Technical Services Group expands building maintenance division
6 days ago