Nottinghamshire firm doubles its workforce as it secures £50 million contract with HPC

Caledonian, a specialist offsite company that makes bespoke buildings at its factory near Newark, has completed the production of the first accommodation modules for Hinkley Point C (HPC) workers.

The company competed with an international supply chain to win the contract with Laing O’Rourke valued at £50million and has doubled its workforce and re-launched its apprenticeship scheme to complete the project to house HPC workers.

HPC guarantees the company 15months work to design and construct the accommodation for 1,500 workers building the UK’s first new nuclear power station in 20 years.

Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, EDF Energy’s Managing Director for New Nuclear Build, said: “We have worked hard to engage the UK supply chain to be part of Hinkley Point C. Many regional businesses have demonstrated they have the skills to support the project and we are delighted that Caledonian in Nottinghamshire is the latest to secure a contract to work with us. Hinkley Point C will drive regional industrial growth for years to come.”

Caledonian CEO, Paul Lang, said: “This is a hugely significant project for Caledonian and the wider offsite industry. This contract award is testament to the commitment of the project team and we are delighted to be working on one of the most important construction projects in Europe.”

Laing O’Rourke Project Leader, Scott Palmer said: “As well as playing a significant role in the construction of the new nuclear power station, Laing O’Rourke is delighted to be leading the workforce accommodation delivery project. We look forward to working with Caledonian across the two Somerset campus site locations, to deliver high quality accommodation to the Hinkley Point C workforce.”

Hinkley Point C will require 5,600 workers during peak construction. Around two thirds of workers will rent privately in the local area or be home based. For the remaining, accommodation facilities are planned in Bridgwater, Somerset along with a 500 bed campus planned for the south of the construction site.

The offsite construction of the campus accommodation is managed by Caledonian in partnership with Laing O’Rourke. The accommodation will be delivered to Somerset 96% complete, minimising the impact that constructing the campus locally may have on the community. In addition all external cladding will be applied during the manufacturing process enabling each 34 bedroom block to be completed in six weeks once delivered to site.

Background on the HPC accommodation campus

The Bridgwater accommodation site is located on part of a former plastics factory to the north of the A39 (Bath Road).The campus will provide living space and recreational facilities for 850 workers within 25 separate accommodation buildings.
The campus is designed with an amenity building which includes a canteen, laundry and gym. One full size and two 5-a-side pitches will also be available on the site for use by our workers and members of the public at certain times.

The campus is expected to operate for six and a half years. The development will leave a positive legacy for the future. After being used by EDF Energy, the buildings will be removed but key infrastructure will be maintained for future development.

The on-site campus will house workers for around 6 years before being removed after the construction of Hinkley Point C has finished. The land will be restored to its original form.