Supporters A-Z / Construction Industry

Supporters / Endorsements

Construction Industry 

1.

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong - Chief Executive, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

To maintain London's pre-eminence as a global financial hub we must invest in London's transport infrastructure. Crossrail will link up the four powerhouses of the UK economy i.e. the City; Canary Wharf; West End; and Heathrow. It is the only show in town and we need it up and running. We know from our members' work around the globe on large infrastructure projects that bold decisions like this pay dividends.

2.

Rosemary Beales

Rosemary Beales - Director, Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) National

Contractors are getting on with looking at how [Crossrail] can be delivered. It is, ultimately, going have a major positive impact on the competitiveness of London, the South East and the UK.

3.

Ted Kyzer

Ted Kyzer - Group Director, Olympics & Pan London Infrastructure Development

My view is both projects [Crossrail and the 2012 Olympics] can go on at the same time since the skills, experience and equipment required are different which means different companies will be involved in each project to a large extent.

4.

Quentin Leiper

Quentin Leiper - President, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

If London is to retain its position as Europe's leading financial and business city, it is of paramount importance for the capital to have a properly integrated transport system. Crossrail is one key project to this essential infrastructure, providing the long awaited link between East and West London. The Institution of Civil Engineers fully supports Crossrail. We are sure that our learned-society could make a valuable contribution to the development and implementation of the project.

5.

John Ling

John Ling - Head of Transport, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

Crossrail is London and the UK's number one transport priority. Delays in starting the project are already unacceptable and it needs to be up and running by 2015/6 at the latest if we are to maintain London and the UK's competitiveness. The railway will serve to demonstrate the world beating quality of the UK's mechanical engineering sector.  The 2012 Olympics is also a hugely exciting project where the eyes of the world will be on London.  I am confident the construction sector will be able to plan and expand to be able build both Crossrail and the infrastructure needed for the 2012 Olympics.

6.

Geoff Lister

Geoff Lister - National President, Federation of Master Builders

Crossrail is London and the UK's number one transport priority. It needs to be up and running by 2015/6 at the latest if we are to maintain London and the UK's competitiveness. The 2012 Olympics is also a hugely exciting project where the eyes of the world will be on London. Both projects will demonstrate the UK's world beating construction industry skills. If we get an early steer on the funding and financing package for Crossrail in 2007 I am confident the construction sector will be able to plan and expand to be able build both Crossrail and the infrastructure needed for the 2012 Olympics.

7.

Professor Robert Mair

Professor Robert Mair - Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Cambridge University

There would be no shortage of contractors to build the tunnels as international contractors will pitch for UK jobs. Tunnelling is a cyclical market. There are already big international players like Nishimatsu, Vinci and Hochtief working successfully in the UK. A boom in UK tunnelling may well coincide with a slow down in places like Singapore, Japan or Hong Kong, which will lead to a natural migration of resources to the UK.

8.

Brian Osborne

Brian Osborne - Group Managing Director, Balfour Beatty

Crossrail is a priority for London and the UK as a whole. The 2012 Olympics is also a hugely exciting project where the eyes of the world will be on London. Both projects will demonstrate the UK's world beating construction industry skills. If we get an early steer on the funding and financing package for Crossrail in 2007 I am confident the construction sector will be able to plan and expand to be able build both Crossrail and the infrastructure needed for the 2012 Olympics.

9.

Stephen Ratcliffe

Stephen Ratcliffe - Chief Executive, The Construction Confederation

Crossrail is a project which could have a hugely significant impact on the competitiveness of London and the South East. It has been talked about for far too long and its time to see some real progress towards getting it underway. With an early steer on funding, the UK civils industry can gear itself up to deliver Crossrail with all the skill, sustainability and innovation that will be put into the infrastructure for the 2012 Olympics.

10.

Allan Wilén

Allan Wilén - Economics Director, Construction Products Association

Crossrail will significantly improve London’s congested and overcrowded transport system. It will provide a rapid rail link from Heathrow and across the capital that will safeguard the competitiveness of both London and UK’s as well improve the quality of life for commuters and provide a catalyst for the regeneration of east London. Government must now ensure that the funding is in place to secure the prompt start of this vital project and to enable the construction products industry to invest with confidence for its cost-effective delivery.