Atkins Grows Support to Site Ops at Hinkley Point C

28/08/2020
 
HPC Site Operations is, as the name suggests, the NNB function which operates the site.  From
bussing to catering, site offices to dewatering, waste management to off-site logistics, Site Operations
has a wide-ranging remit.  Site Ops engineering scope and responsibility significantly increased in
early 2020 as large areas of construction phases assets were completed and transferred to Site Ops
for operation and maintenance.  Site Ops recognised their need for additional engineering capacity
and capability to deliver and manage their scope.
 
Having seen how Atkins’ site-based roads and networks and earthworks teams had operated at HPC
within the engineering directorate, and from the Site Ops programme director’s positive experience of
working with Atkins on London 2012, we were approached directly to work with Site Ops to develop
their capability.  Our role has grown significantly in 2020, throwing up a range of challenging tasks
across the HPC project, including:
 
 Site suitability assessments of compounds and buildings at Avonmouth docks for the storage
of Abnormal Indivisible Loads (AILS);
 Rapid design of the HUS North Plaza construction entrance facility, developing the design
from a Google SketchUp client image to a full fit-for-construction design in less than four
months;
 Detailed design and planning support to the southern bund restoration works to the south of
the construction site, including hydraulic and earthworks design, flood risk assessments,
ecology and landscaping and bridge design;
 Core site-based engineering support team including the Water Management Team Lead
acting as guiding mind for the ongoing management of groundwater and slope monitoring as
the construction site evolves;
 Engineering review and environmental support to a new off-road cycleway to provide safer
connectivity for cyclists travelling to HPC;
 A multitude of small tasks from bus stop design, to deep dig access ramps and structural
assessment of bat bridges.
 
We have recently agreed a core engineering services contract to work alongside Site Ops to manage
the day to day emergent engineering challenges, reflecting the trust Site Ops has in Atkins following
our successful delivery over the year to date.  This revenue stream has grown from zero in January to
support over fifteen full time equivalents over the eight month period to August 2020 .  Credits go
to:  Simon Lynch, James Pateman, Gordon Riddoch, Rhys Satchell, Roy Smith, Blake Williams.