Sellafield Ltd has awarded a series of long-term infrastructure contracts worth up to 2.9 billion euros to support operations and decommissioning at the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria, UK. The work will be delivered under the new Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP), with HOCHTIEF Construction Ltd, Costain Ltd, and Morgan Sindall Infrastructure selected as key delivery partners. The partnership covers a wide range of non-nuclear infrastructure projects crucial to the site’s daily operation. These include roads, bridges, foundations, utilities, and electrical networks.
Factsheet on Latest Contract Award for Sellafield Nuclear Site
Project: Sellafield Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP)
Location: Sellafield, Cumbria, United Kingdom
Contract Type: Long-term framework
Total Value: Up to £2.9 billion
Partners:
- HOCHTIEF Construction Ltd for civil and structural works
- Costain Ltd for utilities infrastructure
- Morgan Sindall Infrastructure for electrical distribution
Client: Sellafield Ltd
Scope: Non-nuclear infrastructure including roads, utilities, bridges, and power systems
Utility: Support safe decommissioning and long-term site operations
Status: Contracts awarded. Mobilization underway
The Contract to Deliver £2.9 Billion Infrastructure Program at Sellafield Nuclear Site
The initial term is nine years, with an option to extend for an additional six years. This potentially runs through 2040. The framework also aims to enhance efficiency and sustainability across Sellafield’s extensive decommissioning portfolio.
Under the arrangement, HOCHTIEF will oversee civil engineering and structural works valued at around £595 million. Costain will focus on utilities while Morgan Sindall delivers electrical distribution systems.
Sellafield Ltd also said the IDP represents a new era of collaborative project delivery. This is as the framework focuses on local employment, apprenticeships and carbon reduction. It will also emphasize the use of modern construction methods such as modular design.
Morgan Sindall was also awarded the remaining term of Sellafied’s Infrastructure Strategic Alliance (ISA) contract in 2021. Sindall partnered with Arup at the time.
The UK’s Nuclear Energy Industry
The Sellafield contract underscores the UK’s ongoing commitment to managing its legacy nuclear facilities and supporting regional industrial regeneration. The country’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) currently oversees 17 sites, Sellafield being the largest and most complex.
The new framework also complements wider UK efforts to modernize nuclear infrastructure, cut carbon emissions, and stimulate local economies through engineering and construction contracts. For contractors like HOCHTIEF, Costain, and Morgan Sindall, the award also strengthens their positions in the UK’s nuclear and infrastructure markets, both of which are expected to see steady investment over the next decade.
Additionally, Sellafield nuclear site alone employs around 11,000 people. This makes it one of the largest employers in North West England. Relative to this, the IDP will therefore have significant regional economic impact. This spans from generating supply chain opportunities to fostering technical skills aligning with the UK government’s Levelling Up and net zero agendas.
Partners Named for Clean-Up of West Cumbria’s Nuclear Site
Reported February 15, 2022 – Key delivery partners have been named for the second set of Sellafield’s new integrated delivery team model covering essential work packages in the clean-up of the West Cumbria’s nuclear site. The two spots for Electrical and Instrumentation have been taken by NG Bailey and Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick. They feature in a framework worth £485 to £600m over the 18-year period of the program.
The award also marks the second Balfour Beatty’s major success after bagging a contract with EJ Parker Technical Services. This covered heating, air conditioning, and ventilation at a cost of £250m.
Delivery Model for West Cumbria’s Sellafield Nuclear Site
The PPP partnership comprises a number of partners with KBR as the integration partner. Morgan Sindall Infrastructure is the civil construction management partner. Jacobs is the design and engineering partner. Doosan Babcock is the process construction management partner, while Sellafield serves as the client.
This delivery model was obtained under a new Multi Project Procurement (MPP) framework. This inspires long-term alliance throughout the supply chain, upgraded project delivery. The MPP model will also lead to the appointment of Key Delivery Partners. This will offer work packages ranging from constructing fit-out, general civil work, to groundwork, steel-work and cladding.
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On behalf of PPP, Craig Jowett remarked: “Sellafield’s new integrated delivery team model is the largest MPP framework to be granted to date. The reactions from all tenderers were of the best caliber and the level of commitment indicated by the successful companies and those who have promoted this package in the past nine months conveys the enthusiasm the framework model is developing. We now move forward into the building phase and begin delivering against the significant success factors.”
