Commonwealth Games and the Construction behind it

The UK have been provided with an out of lockdown roadmap. However, what does this mean for many businesses and construction projects that have already been affected by the pandemic?

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One of the major construction projects that has been affected due to the pandemic is the Commonwealth Games 2022 project.

Various projects were commissioned for the Commonwealth games. Tenders and bids were completed, contractors awarded the work all with a deadline of the Commonwealth Games 2022 being the target. The Commonwealth Village construction project was awarded to Lendlease with an initial cost project to be in the region of £350m. Work for the stadium was awarded to Mace with a budget of £70m. Wates awarded as main contractor for the Aquatics Centre Project.

The Commonwealth Games 2022 was bringing a revival to the area, and investment for the community. However, due to rising costs and the ultimate hit of the pandemic this meant some plans needed to be changed, but not necessarily erased forever. The Athletes Village which was due to create accommodation for 6,500 athletes was changed. The plan is now to move the accommodation to nearby Birmingham and Warwick Universities and the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). The original plan to build 1,400 for the athletes, could no longer be achieved in the timeframe required, like many construction sites across the country were halted in the initial lockdown restrictions.

Recently reported, the aquatics tower has been completed, with the foundations and drainage have already in place, while the pools have been cast in concrete and tested. Overall, the Aquatic centre is due to cost £73 million. The Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin has said “As we begin to look optimistically ahead to the Games, I have no doubt that the Sandwell Aquatics Centre will provide the perfect stage for the world’s top athletes to showcase the very best of Commonwealth sport.”

The Centre is due to open-up to the public the following year 2023, with Adam Peaty noting that the Aquatic centre is a national investment and believes it will capture the next generation of swimmers. It has been a difficult period for the construction industry across the UK during this pandemic. The construction material and supply chain have been hit with delays and shortages, with Builders Merchant Federation having said there is a supply problem of some materials, caused by the increase in demand and problems with imports.

However, the construction industry is working its way back to completing this project, with steady and thorough procedure being carried out to ensure no further issues or situations can affect project development.

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