It was worth it - City roadworks ploughed millions into the local economy

Months of disruption caused by roadworks for Preston's university masterplan has paid dividends for local business.
Roadworks for UCLan masterplan have reaped millions for local businesses.Roadworks for UCLan masterplan have reaped millions for local businesses.
Roadworks for UCLan masterplan have reaped millions for local businesses.

According to Balfour Beatty, the main highways contractor for the University of Central Lancashire's £200m masterplan, every penny spent on their supply chain has gone to companies within 40 miles of the construction site in the centre of the Preston campus.

And, a staggering 96 per cent, or 96p in every pound, went to small or medium sized businesses.

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The road works for the new student centre and masterplan have meant more than a year of constant disruption to traffic around the Aldelphi area. It has included replacing the old Adelphi roundabout with a link road between Fylde Road and Friargate as well as installing new footpaths and trees to create a greener environment around the city campus.

Motorist faced months of diversions and disruption as part of the UCLan Masterplan highways project.Motorist faced months of diversions and disruption as part of the UCLan Masterplan highways project.
Motorist faced months of diversions and disruption as part of the UCLan Masterplan highways project.

Balfour Beatty operations manager, Graeme Moffat, said: "We are deeply committed to delivering significant benefit to the communities in which we operate.

"In addition to spending over £4 million with local SMEs since 2019, we have hired nine graduates and apprentices across the highways improvements project, created 12 new jobs and provided 70 weeks of paid work experience to local people, as well as working with over 2,500 local students via virtual events and participating in twelve volunteer days around the city."

UCLan’s chief information and infrastructure officer Michael Ahern added: "We are always keen to make sure that we support the local economy around Preston, and in hiring our contractors for the masterplan we were keen that they held the same local values.

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"Balfour Beatty, along with Student Centre contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, have embraced this and made sure that the entire city can benefit out of the masterplan, from students to local businesses, neighbours and residents.

The highways work was procured through SCAPE, the UK’s leading public procurement authority, whose group chief executive Mark Robinson said: "SMEs are the backbone of our industry and form the foundations of local communities.

"In a year where small businesses across the supply chain have felt unprecedented pressures, the highways work at UCLan will preserve and prioritise local spend across its contractors – which is a real testament to the ethos of the university and Balfour Beatty.

“We’re proud of the role our framework has played in enabling the university and the wider Preston community to benefit from these significantly improved highways."

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The university is throwing open its Preston car parks free of charge for general public use from December 7 to January 3

To keep up to speed with travel updates and for more detail about current highways information and diversions, visit www.uclanmasterplan.co.uk or email the masterplan team at [email protected]

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