Firm lands £50m deal to build power station accommodation

A company has hired 100 staff after landing a £50m contract to build the biggest single accommodation block since Euro Disney.

Caledonian, of Carlton-on-Trent, which makes pre-fabricated buildings, this week finished the first of 1,500 accommodation modules for a hotel-type project.

It will be home for 61/2 years to workers building the Hinkley Point C power station for EDF Energy.

The contract guarantees Caledonian 15 months work designing and constructing the accommodation for 1,500 workers building the UK’s first nuclear power station in 20 years.

The company competed with an international supply chain to win the contract with Laing O’Rourke.

In addition to boosting its workforce to 150, it has relaunched its apprenticeship scheme.

The individual accommodation units are driven to Somerset when 96% complete.

They are then bolted together and electrical wiring and plumbing is finished.

When complete, the accommodation block will be three-storeys high.

Each module provides living space for one person with a bedroom, bathroom and lounge that Caledonian says meets the standard of a three-star hotel.

Each 34 bedroom block is completed in six weeks once delivered to the site.

One block a week will be made at Carlton-on-Trent.

"A huge boost."

Caledonian CEO Mr 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.

"It is one of the biggest modular building contracts in the UK and also one of the largest single building contracts.

"It is a huge boost and a huge opportunity for this company.

"This one order has enabled us to recruit over 100 people within the local community and surrounding areas."

Mr Lang said the contract gave the company, which also makes buildings for hotels, prisons, the military and residential developers, the chance to grow after laying off staff when the recession hit the UK construction industry.

"There are more sales in the pipeline," he said.

"We believe that this is a really strong company and fighting fit going forward," he said.

"We are building the largest hotel since Euro Disney."

Mr 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 Caledonian is the latest to secure a contract to work with us.

"Hinkley Point C will drive regional industrial growth for years to come.”

Laing O’Rourke project leader Mr 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 will rent privately in the local area or be home based and the rest will live in the on-site accommodation.