Perth Transport Futures - Phase 1

Project value: £35 million

Sector: Infrastructure

Client satisfaction: 9.5/10*

SME engagement: 81%*

Waste diversion: 98%

Fair payment: 100%*

Children engaged in STEM activities: 1200*

Work placements completed: 26*

Days of staff and operative training: 245*

This project is the biggest roads construction project the council has ever undertaken and already we are seeing the significant benefits."

Councillor Murray Lyle

Leader of Perth and Kinross Council

Infrastructure work to encourage investment and expansion

Over the past 20 years, Perth’s position at the heart of Scotland has seen it experience significant economic growth and become a vital strategic hub on the Scottish transport network, providing road connections to major Scottish cities within two hours. This growth has resulted in the city experiencing an increase in congestion and related air quality issues.

The Perth Transport Futures Project, part of Perth & Kinross Council’s Local Development Plan, addresses these issues through the delivery of strategic infrastructure that eases road congestion at key points. It also plans for future growth by creating new transport links in areas that have been identified as long-term growth spots in the city.

Since December 2015, the council has been working collaboratively with Balfour Beatty via the SCAPE Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework, to value engineer, plan, programme and challenge the design to deliver over £2.5 million of savings to Perth and Kinross Council.

The work involves construction of a grade separated junction on the A9, at its junction with the A85 Crieff Road in Perth. This includes the construction of new link roads and associated infrastructure, such as a new bridge over the River Almond and two new culverts for the Lade (one with a pedestrian underpass). The link road will facilitate the required access to the proposed new secondary school at Bertha Park.

*Information correct as of June 2018

Through the SCAPE Civil Engineering framework, Balfour Beatty has been working closely with Perth & Kinross Council to develop the first £35 million phase of the Project as outlined in the Local Development Plan.

Phase one which is close to completion, will see the delivery of a new grade separated road junction on the A9 as well as new link roads to access development land to the west of the city which are due for completion in spring 2019. At peak times, around 100 people have been employed on the project and a number of apprenticeship opportunities have been created.

The project as a whole will provide both new and improved infrastructure to facilitate the construction of 4,000 new homes and access to 50Ha of employment land. The project will also directly contribute economic outcomes by delivering a significant uplift in Gross Value Added (GVA), net additional employment, private sector investment and net additional tax revenues.

Developing the project from inception phase, Balfour Beatty and Perth & Kinross Council have worked in an open and collaborative manner resulting in £2.5 million of savings achieved through value engineering and early design works.

Alongside delivering financial savings that Perth & Kinross Council can re-invest elsewhere, the jointly developed project is being used to create a skilled workforce in the area that can deliver the subsequent phases of the Local Development Plan.

Through the Institute of Civil Engineers ‘Bridges to School’ programme, young local people have been engaged on the opportunities available in the infrastructure industry. The project has also sought to help reduce re-offending by working with the Scottish Prison Service to offer ex-offenders opportunities to develop skills and secure employment.

9.5/10

Client satisfaction*

98%

Waste diversion*

81%

SME engagement*