Infrastructure firm appointed to North West gas mains replacement scheme

Cadent, which looks after the North West gas distribution network, has today, awarded a construction management service contract to Salford-based infrastructure firm Network Plus.

It is one of four such regional contracts around the UK linked to a 10-year £600m mains replacement programme.

The performance-related contracts are valued at around £300m over an initial five year regulatory period, with a second five year term taking the overall potential value to £600m.

They will take effect from April 2021.

In the North West Cadent replaces more than 300 miles of ageing underground gas mains every year.

It is replacing old metallic pipes with tough, hard-wearing plastic pipes as part of a 30-year programme due to finish by 2032.

Its network distributes gas to head 83% of homes in the North West region.

Cadent chief operating officer, Howard Forster, said on the announcement of the four contracts: “We are delighted to be working with each of these companies.

“The use of a construction management organisation contract across our gas mains replacement work is a new and innovative approach for Cadent.

“We are utilising knowledge and experience from other sectors, regarding this type of strategic partner contract.

“It is designed to allow these partners to utilise their organisation’s capability and skills to focus on driving customer and safety performance and programme efficiency across Cadent’s major investment programme on a specific network basis.”

The next stage of the partnerships is to work with each of the contract holders to appoint local delivery partners who will carry out the mains replacement work, contracted by Cadent, but managed by each of the partners in the networks.

These local contracts will be awarded in the Autumn.