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Item 5 – Approve and Authorise the Award of the HIF1 Culham River Crossing Construction Contract

-       Greg O’Broin

There are no minutes of previous meetings to approve.

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Cabinet Member: Place, Environment and Climate Action 

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/268

Key Decision

Contact: Tim Mann, Programme Lead – South (Timothy.Mann@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director of Environment and Highways (CMDPECA5). 

This is seeking approval and authorisation for the award of the HIF1 Culham River Crossing Construction Contract.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Delegate authority to the Director of Environment and Highways to award the Stage Two NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract for the HIF1 Didcot to Culham River Crossing scheme to John Graham Construction Limited under the Crown Commercial Service Construction Works and Associated Services Framework RM6088, Lot 5 (National Lot across all UK regions) subject to:

(i)             agreement of the target cost,

(ii)           agreement of the programme for the works,

(iii)         finalising the contract terms and

(iv)         confirmation that sufficient funding is allocated.

b)    Delegate authority to the Director of Environment and Highways to enter into a Works and Access Agreement relating to land at Sutton Courtenay with FCC Environment UK Limited (FCC) and a two Party Overbridge Agreement and a Restoration Agreement with Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited.

The Chair introduced the item and invited officers to present the report.

Officers confirmed that the report sought delegation to the Director of Environment and Highways to award the contract for the Culham River Crossing, which was one of the 3 major infrastructure projects as part of the HIF1 scheme.

The Chair noted that the build was complicated as this particular section crossed the River Thames and officers confirmed that approval was needed from Homes England for the release of contingency funding.

It was noted that it was unclear how long the mitigations would need to be in place as construction had not started, but that regular liaison meetings would be organised with local stakeholders.

The Chair reflected on the proposed benefits of the scheme in terms of providing relief to surrounding villages, reductions in congestion and the fact it was a flood preventative measure.

The Chair noted that some type of traffic lights system at Appleford could be explored.

The Chair thanked officers for their work, speakers for their contributions and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

a)    Delegate authority to the Director of Environment and Highways to award the Stage Two NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract for the HIF1 Didcot to Culham River Crossing scheme to John Graham Construction Limited under the Crown Commercial Service Construction Works and Associated Services Framework RM6088, Lot 5 (National Lot across all UK regions) subject to:

(i) agreement of the target cost,

(ii) agreement of the programme for the works,

(iii) finalising the contract terms and

(iv) confirmation that sufficient funding is allocated.

b)   Delegate authority to the Director of Environment and Highways to enter into a Works and Access Agreement relating to land at Sutton Courtenay with FCC Environment UK Limited (FCC) and a two Party Overbridge Agreement and a Restoration Agreement with Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited.