A new partnership between Shropshire Council and WSP will help improve the county’s roads, attract inward investment to Shropshire, keep money in the county, help meet the council’s net zero and climate change targets, and deliver social value benefits to residents and businesses across Shropshire.
Following a competitive procurement process, WSP have been awarded the council’s new five-year Built Environment Consultancy Contract (BECC).
The contract – which began in April 2023 and was officially launched on 25 May – will deliver a range of placemaking, highways and transport projects across the county.
The BECC contract expands on Shropshire Council’s previous highway and transport engineering consultancy contract, which was held by WSP from April 2015 to March 2023.
Chris Schofield, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member for highways, said: “Our work with WSP in recent years has delivered a range of successful projects and we look forward to building on these successes by continuing to work in partnership and through collaboration.
“This new contract will directly impact the quality of the county’s roads and necessary capital projects, helping to ensure a positive quality of life for all using roads and transport in the county – as well as improved placemaking.”
Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for growth, regeneration and housing, said: “This new contract is great news for Shropshire and for our residents. As well as delivering improved highways and transport, WSP’s support will enable the council to achieve our statutory duties and deliver our economic development strategy, mitigate climate risk, address net zero targets and manage our assets. It will also help the council to drive our visions and priorities and meet the aims of the new Shropshire Plan.
“By taking advantage of WSP’s knowledge and experience – plus insights gained from addressing these challenges with other highways and transport operators and placemaking authorities – Shropshire will see real benefits and be able to continue to make significant gains.”
David Stephens, managing director for local government at WSP, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this contract and look forward to continuing our long-term relationship with Shropshire Council, working together to further enhance the county’s built environment.
“This new contract brings an expanded scope of services with a greater emphasis on placemaking, economic development and investment, enabling WSP to provide a broader range of expertise to the council and its communities.”
Projects that WSP and Shropshire Council have worked together on in recent years include:
- Town centre improvement schemes in Shrewsbury and Shifnal.
- Shrewsbury North West Relief Road.
- A529 road safety improvement schemes.
- Mile End junction improvements, Oswestry.
- Carbon-neutral highways maintenance programme.
- Oswestry Innovation Park.
- Shrewsbury River Severn safety report.
WSP is also a partner in the Shropshire Highways alliance, with Shropshire Council and Kier.
The BECC contract start date was 3 April 2023 for a period of five years with the provision to extend up to a maximum of nine years based on satisfactory performance throughout the service period.
The contract covers the following service areas:
- Placemaking and growth advice
- Built environment advice and industry best practice
- Identification and development of funding opportunities
- Major projects, including traffic, highways asset, transport and masterplan development
- Highways maintenance strategy and advice
- Highways schemes advice, design and project development
- Flood and water management advice and design
- Street lighting, traffic signals and Smart Streets advice, design and innovation
- Transport services, including traffic planning and public transport
- Bridges and highways structures advice, design and project development
- Asset inspection, monitoring and audit services
- Natural environment advice, design and best practice, including Rights of Way and natural assets
- Data and governance.
