Future of consultants on major roads schemes in doubt

The role of consultants on future major road projects has been thrown into doubt following the recent announcement of packaged early contractor involvement (ECI) schemes by the Highways Agency.

In a recent industry questions and answer session, Steve Rhodes of the Environment Agency asked the Highways Agency what role consultants would play in ECI schemes if designs were being drawn up by the contractor.

Steve Rowsell, the Agency's procurement director, responded by adding that some consultants were "starting to feel threatened" by the changing shape of roads contracts and it was important that consultants provide other assets to the team when working on ECI contracts.

The first batch of packaged schemes is expected to be announced after April when transport secretary Alistair Darling announces a wave of major road contracts.

With the Agency looking to package three major projects into each region - spread over 20 packages and over a longer time period - those not willing to change would be without work for many years.

One major roads contractor, which is now looking specifically at the role of designers on its roads teams, told CJ that many consultants it visited were at "panic stations" over their future and that many will have to change their outlook to stay in the roads market.

"One or two of the major players will have to take a long hard look at themselves and decide if this is the right market for them anymore," it added. "You might also see some of the big name contractors starting to cut popular names from their lists."