Civil Engineering Today briefing: Friday 16 October 2026

Stories from the last 24 hours

• Kier to lead design of Heaton Park Metrolink stop accessibility upgrade

  Transport for Greater Manchester has appointed Kier to design step-free access, new shelters and a pedestrian track crossing at the Bury line stop in Prestwich under its Metrolink Stop Improvements Programme.

• TRU buys 26 biodiversity units from Leeds City Council for Barnbow woodland work

  Network Rail's Transpennine Route Upgrade has completed its first purchase of biodiversity units, backing a 30-year enhancement of 8.32 hectares of woodland at Barnbow, east of Cross Gates station.

• DfT formally amends national policy statement for ports after Commons scrutiny period ends

  The Department for Transport has designated a revised national policy statement for ports, replacing the 2012 version, after no resolution against it was passed within the 21 sitting days set by the Planning Act 2008.

• Environment Agency helps fit flood resilience measures to 100 East Midlands homes in £1.6m project

  Flood doors, sump pumps and non-return valves have been fitted in homes across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire hit by Storm Babet and Storm Henk, with funding from councils, the Trent RFCC and the Frequently Flooded Allowance.

• Network Rail to renew 1km of flood-damaged track on Hertford East branch in nine-day closure

  Engineers will replace rails, sleepers and ballast through Rye House station from 17 to 25 October, ten months after a burst Thames Water sewer flooded the line in Hertfordshire.

• AECOM names Liam Feeney transmission and distribution lead for Europe and India

  The former PSC general manager will lead and grow AECOM's transmission and distribution team as the consultancy works on National Grid's Great Grid Partnership and EirGrid's Framework for Grid Development.