WSP appointed on £32M consultancy contract

The engineering consultants will provide civil engineering design and project management, coast protection, passenger transport, transport planning and traffic and parking management services over a nine-year period.

WSP has worked with the borough councils for 11 years on projects such as making Bournemouth train and coach station more accessible and interchange-friendly and the design of the Harbour Reach footbridge. 

WSP Bournemouth based commission director Richard Carpenter said: “We’re very pleased to be awarded this very important service delivery contract.

“We’ve been working with the Bournemouth and Poole Borough Councils since 2006 and we look forward to building on the success of our collaborative partnership with the councils to deliver high quality technical services that will bring significant social value to the local area.”

The announcement comes after local government secretary Sajid Javid said he is “minded” to approve reducing the number of Dorset local authorities from nine to two by April next year. This would see Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch form a new authority. Bournemouth Council has started to create shared services and contracts with neighbouring Poole in preparation, a spokeswoman confirmed.

Bournemouth Council service director Larry Austin said: “The appointment of WSP as a strategic partner to deliver engineering professional services for both Bournemouth Council and Borough of Pool comes at a critical time for both authorities in light of ongoing organisational changes.

“Delivery of our various engineering led services and functions, together with the key projects within the Bournemouth and Poole conurbation, can now be approached with the continued high level of certainty and quality that the elected members, businesses and residents expect.”