Network Rail appoints HBC Construction on £7.2m Sheffield project
The newly formed company, formerly Henry Boot Construction, will design and build a 15,000 sq ft net-zero-in-operation maintenance delivery unit for the railway company.
The contract was procured through a two-stage tender, with work to begin on site next month and complete in 2027.
Located at Network Rail’s Blast Lane Depot, the main building will be timber-frame, which will bring benefits through carbon sequestration and will remain exposed where possible, including in the architecturally defining vaulted ceilings.
Partially funded through Network Rail’s Green Bank, other sustainability measures will include heat recovery ventilation, smart lighting and controls, an enlarged rooftop solar PV array, improved building fabric, and efficient water management systems.
HBC’s project team has worked closely with Network Rail to optimise the building layout and reduce the footprint by more than 25%, cutting materials, costs, and operational energy use while improving functionality.
HBC hopes the project’s innovative design and sustainable approach will position the Sheffield MDU as a national blueprint of low-carbon, future-ready railway facilities.
During its first 20 years of operation, the Sheffield MDU is projected to save around 850 tonnes of CO₂e, equivalent to 42.5 tonnes per year, compared with a traditional design.
Lee Powell, managing director at HBC, said: “We’re proud to be partnering with Network Rail once again on another forward-thinking MDU scheme, building on the strong progress of our Barnetby [Lincolnshire] project.
“Repeat business of this nature reflects the trust and collaboration we’ve built with Network Rail and showcases how our pre-construction function delivers real benefits for our clients.
“This new facility will set another benchmark for sustainable design and timber-frame delivery across Yorkshire and the wider region.”
Chris Round, senior portfolio manager at Network Rail Eastern Routes Capital Programmes, said: “The new MDU will provide much-needed, high-quality accommodation for our frontline staff, with the sustainability initiatives proposed as part of the scheme delivering long-term benefits for the North and East Route.”
