Project management expertise improves outcomes on the M27 J10 upgrade

Opportunity

The M27 Junction 10 improvement scheme will involve the creation of three new slip roads, the improvement of the existing eastbound on-slip and the construction of a new underpass beneath the M27. The scheme includes new north south and east west link roads, three new roundabouts and improvements to the existing A32. This project aims to establish vital connections between the National Highways strategic road network (SRN) and Welborne Garden Village served by Hampshire County Council’s (HCC) local highway network.

Only 1,650 new homes can be built at Welborne Garden Village before the completion of the M27 Junction 10, therefore the junction is critical to help bring forward this regionally significant development. Situated north of Fareham in Hampshire, the Garden Village will accommodate 6,000 new homes, several schools, a town centre and a science and technology park. This will generate up to 5,000 jobs. Over half of the total area will be greenspace, comprised of woodlands, parks, sports facilities and gardens.

Solution

Mott MacDonald’s project management team was seconded to National Highways to help Hampshire County Council, who are acting as delivery body for the scheme to complete the National Highways approval process via their product control framework (PCF). Mott MacDonald acted as the facilitator between the council and National Highways, guiding HCC through the PCF framework. The scheme is currently approaching the end of stage five at which point the scheme will move forward into delivery. The team is highly experienced with National Highways’ culture and working practices, ensuring efficient liaison on products and providing an embedding process using National Highways’ project management procedures, which are challenging for third parties to access.

As project managers, Mott MacDonald is leading a complex engagement process with multiple stakeholders, ensuring the delivery body can progress seamlessly through National Highways’ systems, cultures, and processes. Mott MacDonald’s expertise in the PCF process is proving vital in delivering key project outcomes, and reducing the impacts on the operation of the SRN.

Our ability to successfully deliver critical project management services has been demonstrated across many other National Highways schemes, including the regional investment programme and operations directorate east programme.

Outcome

With Mott MacDonald’s project management expertise, multiple outcomes will be delivered including:

• The delivery of an improved Junction 10 to help facilitate access to and from the new Welborne Garden Village development
• The provision of new routes for cyclists, pedestrians, and buses, improving development connectivity with key facilities in Fareham
• Support for the government’s commitment to building 300,000 new homes each year, as well as Fareham Borough Council’s commitment to support the delivery this target
• Helping provide economic growth and regeneration, leading to over 5,000 job opportunities. The additional 6,000 new households will also increase consumer spending with local businesses and services