HS2 Ltd has welcomed a decision by construction giant Bechtel to allow it to award a £1.3bn contract for a new station at Old Oak Common, despite an ongoing court case over the procurement.
Earlier this year, Bechtel launched legal action against the firm building the high speed rail link after losing out on the construction partner contract, which was awarded to a Balfour Beatty/Vinci/Systra (BBVS) joint venture.
What the Old Oak Common station might look like
Bechtel, which is a contractor on other parts of the multi-billion pound HS2 project, has now agreed to HS2 Ltd’s application to lift the suspension of the contract, although its substantive claim remains.
An HS2 Ltd spokesperson said: ‘We welcome Bechtel’s decision. The arrival of HS2 will transform Old Oak Common and help deliver 25,000 new homes and 65,000 jobs, as part of the UK’s biggest regeneration project.
‘Our early works contractors are currently hard at work, clearing the huge site and preparing for the start of station construction.’
‘We remain confident that the Construction Partner procurement process was robust, and we intend to sign contracts as soon as possible.’
Although Bechtel’s decision allows HS2 Ltd to sign the contract for the Old Oak Common works, the whole high speed rail project is currently subject to an ‘independent’ review looking at all aspects of the scheme, including whether it should go ahead at all.
HS2 told Transport Network it is 'business as usual' during the review.
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