Civil engineering company celebrates host of contract wins

HOWARD Civil Engineering (HCE) has won a number of contracts worth more than £10m with some of the UK’s leading construction companies.

The £15 million turnover company, based in Leeds, has started work for Sir Robert McAlpine on groundworks, drainage and concrete structures for the £150m flagship Victoria Gates shopping centre in Leeds, which will feature the long-awaited four-storey John Lewis department store, an arcade of shops and restaurants as well as a multi-storey car park for 800 vehicles.

The second commission for Carillion and Morgan Sindall JV, involves the widening of the A1 between Leeming and Barton, which is currently the largest Highways Agency project in the UK.

In Sheffield, the company’s specialist workforce will carry out the groundworks for two new fire stations at Birley Moor and Parkway for Bam Construction as well as Goole High School in Hull and Prince Edward Primary School, for Sir Robert McAlpine.

HCE beat off a number of competitors to secure both the Victoria Gate project and the widening of the A1 and marks the continuation of a successful year which has seen it win contracts to build the new headquarters for NHS IT specialist TPP, in Horsforth, Leeds, and carry out major improvements on the A57 north of Manchester for Hochteif, Buckingham JV.

Michael Howard, MD of Howard Civil Engineering, which employs a 120-strong team, said: “2014 has been a tremendous year and these latest commissions to widen the A1 and lay the foundations for the prestigious Victoria Gate centre further enhance our growing reputation in the highway and concrete sectors.”

Andy Mather, project manager for Sir Robert McAlpine at Victoria Gate, added: “HCE has offered unlimited support and a truly consultative approach in relation to construction methods and value engineering options, which have helped the project meet commercial and operational targets. We look forward to working with the team over the coming months.”