A new collaborative approach to work will be taken by 22 contractors and three design firms selected by London Underground (LU) to modernise 70 of its stations in a £300M Station Stabilisation programme.
LU's Stake delivery model will be used to reduce sub-contractor layers in the supply chain. LU has said it will be engaging directly with small to medium enterprises to employ the people who will deliver work on site.
Director of tiling contractor DMC Alex Morrissey called Stake a breath of fresh air, adding that it was “opening up opportunities to value engineer and innovate in ways that weren't possible under conventional sub-contracting arrangements.”
The benefiting stations will see upgraded flooring, walls and ceilings, CCTV systems and energy efficient lighting installed over the next seven years. They will then be maintained to a common standard meaning no significant additional work should be needed for a further 10 years.
Some stations to be included in the scheme are Embankment, Paddington, Earls Court, South Kensington and Charing Cross.
LU's programme director for stations Miles Ashley said: “Construction supply chains have become multi-tiered and fragmented, and it could be said that the industry has lost sight of the importance of craft skills in delivering efficiently.
“Our Stake approach allows long term engagement with the people at the workface and recognises that they are the most valuable part of our team.”
The appointed contractors are Wingate, Delatim, Giffin Group, Atkins, Fourway, Magnolia, Emerald, Close Brothers, Livis, DMC, Excel, K&M McLoughlin, JNG, HA Marks, AGS, Community Clean, UKDN Waterflow, Lanes Group, Hillmore Fire Protection, Young & Young Security, TRAD Scaffolding and Millcroft. The Designers are Atkins, Jacobs and Capita.
LU is working with the successful suppliers to establish craft academies that will provide skills training and frontline leadership to help supervisors and construction managers deliver the programme efficiently.
Refurbishment project manager Jeevani Subasinghe said: “Stake has provided the flexibility to work closely with our suppliers and organise work to reduce our project delivery times.”
