Some huge projects are due to hit critical milestones in the new year, as coronavirus, social distancing and Brexit continue to dominate the delivery of construction projects in 2021. Here’s our run-down of the big ones to watch.
1) Forest Green Rovers stadium – a timber revolution?
Gloucestershire-based Forest Green Rovers’ decision to build a wooden football stadium was unprecedented. It has becoming an even bolder call when you consider the current perception of combustible materials and backdrop of financial uncertainty facing lower-league teams.
A director from Zaha Hadid, who designed the timber structure (above), told
CN in February 2020 wood was a good material for stadium construction, being both low-carbon and conducive to an attractive design.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Blyth, Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA)
The firm announced last week it planned to build a major factory in Blyth, Northumberland, to supply batteries for electric vehicles – creating 3,000 jobs directly and another 5,000 indirectly.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the news during a visit to the Tory-held constituency on Friday.
But Mr Carlstrom’s decision to step down led the Unite union to express “concerns” about the Britishvolt plans, while restating hopes the start-up would succeed.
Assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “The resignation of Britishvolt’s chairman over a tax fraud conviction adds to Unite’s concerns over the company’s ability to deliver on their plans.
£2 6bn battery plant s future questioned by union theiet.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theiet.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
ISG has been appointed as main contractor to deliver the UK’s first gigaplant car battery facility.
The factory will be built on a 95-hectare site of a former coal power station in Blyth, Northumberland, with the first phase due to complete by the end of 2023. Once completed, it will be the first site in the UK producing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The whole scheme is scheduled to be finished by 2027.
A construction value has not been provided, but the client, Britishvolt, has claimed £2.6bn will be invested in the project in total. The plant will be powered solely by renewable sources. This could potentially include hydro-electric power from Norway via the North Sea Link 447-mile interconnector, which is under construction and due to be completed next year.
BBC News
British Airways last Boeing 747 reaches end of runway
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British Airways last remaining Boeing 747 has taken to the sky for one final time.
The passenger plane flew from Cardiff Airport to eCube Solutions at Bro Tathan business park in St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan to be preserved.
In July the airline said the devastating impact of Covid-19 meant all 31 of its remaining 747s had flown their last commercial services.
Its final passenger flight was from San Francisco to Heathrow on 4 April.
Since entering BA s fleet on 20 January 1999, the aircraft - registration G-BYGC - has flown 45m miles over 11,049 flights for a total of 91,023 hours.