Herefordshire Council Awards Places on £100M Highways and Public Realm Framework

Herefordshire Council has unveiled the contractors selected to deliver a new £100M highways and public realm framework, creating a four-year procurement vehicle that will support infrastructure investment across the county through to 2030.

The framework, which came into effect this month, forms a key part of the council's new approach to delivering highways and public realm services following the commencement of its new Public Realm Contract on 1 June.

Under what the authority describes as a "mixed economy" delivery model, the framework will provide access to a range of contractors capable of delivering everything from major road surfacing projects and bridge repairs to traffic signal upgrades and specialist public realm works.

A total of 18 suppliers have secured positions across the framework's various lots, combining national infrastructure businesses with regional contractors and specialist SMEs.

The framework is valued at up to £100M over its four-year duration, although the council has emphasised that expenditure will depend on future funding allocations and programme requirements.

Surfacing Dominates Investment Programme

The largest share of the framework is dedicated to road surfacing and carriageway maintenance.

Tarmac has secured the highest-value package after being appointed sole supplier for Lot 3, which covers surfacing projects of unlimited value. The lot is worth up to £55M and represents more than half of the framework's overall estimated value.

A further £12.5M has been allocated to surface dressing and preventative maintenance treatments through Lot 4, with Eurovia Infrastructure selected as the sole provider. The work will focus on extending the lifespan of existing carriageways through targeted maintenance interventions.

Together, the two surfacing packages account for almost 70 per cent of the framework's potential expenditure, underlining the council's focus on preserving and improving its highway assets.

Opportunities for National and Regional Contractors

Civil engineering works have been divided into two separate value bands designed to create opportunities for both larger contractors and regional delivery partners.

Lot 1, covering projects valued below £500,000, has been awarded to Cambrensis Civil Engineering, M Group Highways, Octavius Infrastructure, Owen Pell and Velta Construction. The package carries an estimated value of £7.5M.

For larger schemes valued between £500,000 and £3M, the council has appointed Alun Griffiths Contractors, Fitzgerald Contractors, McPhillips (Wellington), Montel Civil Engineering and Octavius Infrastructure under Lot 2, which is valued at £10M.

Several contractors have secured positions across multiple lots, strengthening their presence within the county's future infrastructure programme.

Bridge and Structures Specialists Appointed

Bridge maintenance and structural improvement projects will be delivered through a dedicated £10M structures lot.

Cambrensis Civil Engineering, McPhillips (Wellington), Owen Pell, Velta Construction and VolkerLaser have all secured places on the framework to deliver structural works valued up to £1M.

The inclusion of a specialist structures lot reflects the increasing importance of asset management and infrastructure resilience as local authorities seek to maximise the lifespan of existing bridges and highway structures.

Technology and Traffic Management Included

The framework also includes provision for intelligent transport systems and traffic technology.

Telent Technology Services has been appointed sole supplier for Lot 6, a £2.5M package covering traffic signal installation, maintenance and associated traffic monitoring infrastructure across the county.

The contract combines both works and ongoing maintenance services, recognising the growing importance of technology-led traffic management and network monitoring systems.

New Delivery Model for Infrastructure Investment

The framework is intended to provide flexibility, allowing projects to be awarded either through direct allocation or via mini-competitions between appointed suppliers depending on the nature and value of individual schemes.

By combining national delivery capability with regional expertise, Herefordshire Council hopes to create a procurement structure capable of delivering highway maintenance, public realm improvements and infrastructure upgrades efficiently while supporting local supply chains.

The appointments come at a time when local authorities are under increasing pressure to maximise the value of infrastructure investment, address maintenance backlogs and improve network resilience.

With contracts now signed and the framework operational until June 2030, the selected contractors are expected to play a central role in delivering Herefordshire's highways and public realm investment programme over the next four years.