Infrastructure Focus – Page 6
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FeaturesInfrastructure costs: Airports
As the debate on UK runway capacity gets ever more intense, all of the UK’s airports are focusing on how they can use their existing assets more effectively. Paul Willis and Simon Rawlinson of EC Harris review the key issues affecting infrastructure replacement and enhancement
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FeaturesRope trick: Thames cable car
An ambitious plan to build a cable car over the Thames was up against some seriously tough technical challenges, not to mention the dreaded jinx of the Greenwich peninsula. Building finds out whether they pulled it off. Photography by Tim Crocker
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FeaturesCrossrail: Pulling out all the stops
Crossrail - the biggest engineering project in Europe - also claims to be a driver for multimillion-pound regeneration in the capital. Ike Ijeh takes a look at three key stations along the route and asks how much Londoners will really benefit
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FeaturesLegal challenges to HS2: Destination High Court
High Speed 2 holds out the prospect of a much-needed boost to UK construction. But the legal challenges the project faces means it could hit the buffers before it’s even left the platform. Allister Hayman reports
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FeaturesOffshore wind farms: Winds of change
Tidal turbine technology is changing fast and offshore wind turbines are getting bigger, so the government-backed firm Narec is investing £80m into its testing facilities to simulate the harsh conditions at sea. Thomas Lane explains
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FeaturesFrance's nuclear fusion reactor: The hottest and coldest place on earth
Building goes on the trail of the ITER - a £12.5bn multinational project that might just save the world …
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FeaturesWill Hinkley Point C survive planners and protests?
Hinkley Point C will be the first nuclear power plant to be built in decades and of course construction firms are keen to be part of the £10bn project. But wait: EDF still has to make a final investment decision, the plant hasn’t even got planning permission yet, and then ...
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FeaturesInfrastructure: Biomass energy
The biomass sector is gaining momentum and should prove easier for construction firms to break into than either off-shore wind or nuclear energy. Simon Rawlinson of EC Harris and John Busby of Arcadis examine this emerging market
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FeaturesKing's Cross Western Concourse: Space Travel
John McAslan’s 8,500m2 Western Concourse at King’s Cross is transport architecture on an epic scale, returning the station to the grandeur of the golden age of trave. Just a shame about the glazing …
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FeaturesHigh Speed 2: Jobs on the line
HS2 has got off to a speedy start by appointing its first-phase consultants in just three weeks. But the real wow-factor of this mega-project is that it could employ thousands of construction workers over more than two decades. Building assesses the opportunities ahead
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FeaturesSpotlight: Major infrastructure
Vast civil engineering projects such as Crossrail are likely to keep concrete producers busy over the next couple of years, and lengthen lead times for diaphragm wall construction, says Brian Moone
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FeaturesMoD work: Private sector-led plan of attack
The Ministry of Defence’s announcement that it won’t let any new construction contracts this year has left bidders in limbo, but could the imminent appointment of a private sector partner boost morale in the ranks?
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FeaturesExhibition Road: Walkin' & wheels
Dixon Jones’ £28m reworking of South Kensington’s great museum quarter, Exhibition Road, resolves the long stand-off between pedestrians and cars by allowing them to share the same space. Ike Ijeh is knocked over by the simplicity of the design. Photographs by Tim Crocker
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FeaturesFarringdon station overhaul: Boring? If only!
London’s Farringdon station has been given an overhaul and is ready for more passengers, bigger trains and Crossrail. But it hasn’t been an easy ride - and digging a 140m tunnel by hand was the least of it. By Thomas Lane. Photography by Colin Streater
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FeaturesPFI: What’s the plan?
Next week the chancellor will unveil his £50bn infrastructure plan, as the euro crisis causes construction scheme finance to retreat. Joey Gardiner looks at whether George Osborne can tempt new sources of private cash to fill the funding gap
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FeaturesAlan Cumming: Worth the energy
EDF is planning the UK’s first new nuclear plant in 30 years. But it needs contractors with the right skills. Alan Cumming, EDF’s procurement boss, tells Building why it’s worth training up - and that you don’t need a French name to win the work
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FeaturesFinancing infrastructure: the $60tn question
Sponsored content: The value of global infrastructure projects is enormous, but this market also has tough challenges. Building invited a panel of experts to debate the issues at the Infrastructure Executive Forum
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FeaturesKing's Cross station's £500m redevelopment: King of King's
King’s Cross station was long ago toppled from its architectural throne by neighbouring St Pancras. But a £500m refurbishment is about to make it a terminus worthy of the people
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FeaturesConstruction statistics: Is it really that bad ?
Government statistics suggest construction contracted 5% last quarter, but it’s hard to find anyone who believes that is true. Joey Gardiner argues the reality is actually more positive and presents alternative data to back up his case
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FeaturesHigh Speed 2: full speed ahead
High Speed 2 is a project people love to hate. But it would reduce train overcrowding, boost business and pump billions into the construction industry