Winvic Construction Ltd has been appointed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership to deliver a new haul road for the future Waterbeach railway station, marking the contractor's first project awarded under the Eastern Highways Alliance Framework 4 (EHF4).

The scheme forms part of the £800 million regional framework managed by Central Bedfordshire Council, which brings together ten local authorities across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk and Thurrock to deliver highways and infrastructure improvements.

Work on the project began in November and is scheduled for completion in summer 2026. Procured through a competitive mini competition under Lot 1 of the framework, the £3 million contract will see Winvic deliver the works under an NEC4 Option A contract.

The 3.1km haul road will provide essential access for the next phase of works at Waterbeach, enabling Spencer Group to begin construction of the new railway station. Around 830 metres of the route will make use of an existing former airfield taxiway within land owned by Urban & Civic, while the remaining 2.3km will be a newly constructed carriageway across the wider development site.

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When completed, the road will include a 3.75-metre-wide single carriageway with passing bays across farmland and a 7-metre-wide single carriageway along the taxiway section, supported by drainage and fencing along the route.

The construction programme will involve extensive earthworks and utilities protection, with surplus materials from the site reused for level adjustments, bund creation and ditch excavations. Winvic is also assessing value-engineering opportunities aimed at reducing material use, project costs and carbon emissions.

Stakeholder engagement will be a key part of the project's delivery, with coordination planned between the Greater Cambridge Partnership—responsible for the railway station itself—and Urban & Civic, the developer behind the wider Waterbeach new town. Traffic and pedestrian management measures will also be introduced along Bannold Drove (Green Lane), alongside early engagement with local residents to minimise disruption.

Due to the site's previous use as a former army barracks, the project will also require archaeological monitoring and unexploded ordnance (UXO) considerations, with some work taking place up to 3km away from the main compound.

As part of its commitments under the Eastern Highways Alliance framework, Winvic will deliver a programme of social value initiatives, including employment and skills opportunities in partnership with local SMEs, education providers and charities. The programme will focus on apprenticeships, opportunities for underrepresented groups and community support initiatives aligned with local needs.

Rob Cook, Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure at Winvic, said: "Securing our first project under the EHA Framework is a significant milestone for Winvic and reflects the strength of our relationship with the Greater Cambridge Partnership, Cambridgeshire County Council and partners across the region. The Waterbeach Station haul road is an important enabling scheme that underpins the long-term growth of the new town and the delivery of critical transport infrastructure. We look forward to bringing our civil engineering expertise, collaborative approach and commitment to creating a positive impact in the local area, helping set the standard for future schemes under the framework."