Tackling the pollution crisis in urban areas
London EV Company has invested in and built a new manufacturing facility in Ansty, Coventry, able to produce more than 20,000 electric taxis and commercial vehicles per year.
Key information
- Location:
- Date started:
- 2016
- Completion date:
- 2017
- Client type:
- Technology and manufacturing
Client’s requirements
The air quality crisis in many urban environments has highlighted the scale of the demand for zero-emissions-capable commercial vehicles in major cities across the world. Electrification is a key component of the global strategy to reduce these emissions.
Determined to apply its expertise in advanced electric vehicle technology to help improve air quality and support cities in tackling the pollution crisis in urban areas, London EV Company (LEVC, formerly LTC), has invested in and built a new manufacturing facility in Ansty, Coventry.
The Ansty plant is the first dedicated electric vehicle manufacturing facility to be built in the UK. At full capacity LEVC will be able to build more than 20,000 electric taxis and commercial vehicles per year, designed for, and dedicated to help reduce urban emissions.
The investment in the new site and the next-generation of vehicles will help create more than 1,000 new jobs, including 200 engineers and 30 apprenticeships.
LEVC required a principal contractor and principal designer to support its project team and to manage safety and compliance with the CDM 2015 regulations during the fit-out phase of the new 30,000m2 production facility.
- £325m value
Our contribution
We were appointed as both principal contractor and principal designer for the fit-out works. The key challenges were:
- An ambitious programme of 12 months duration using multiple engineering and technology contractors.
- LEVC engineers and manufacturing staff required early access to areas for pilot manufacturing of vehicles and the training of its workforce in the new technologies and processes.
- Coordination of contractor activities to resolve multiple and potentially conflicting demands from the project team and other internal client stakeholders with their own operational and commercial constraints, for example achieving pilot vehicle manufacture in time for winter environmental testing.
- Development was in a sensitive environment adjacent to a nature reserve requiring consideration of protected species.
"Turner & Townsend played a significant role in helping LEVC deliver a complex project to a tight timeline scale without compromise. With their support, we were able to ensure minimal impact on our surroundings – helping us fulfil our ambitions to work to the highest environmental standards."
Making the difference
This was a challenging and dynamic programme with multiple installation contractors, a large client commissioning team and the need to support phased handback of installations. Our deployed team of safety specialists set the highest safety standards and principles for the delivery of the programme with the intention of winning hearts and instilling a positive safety ethos to influence safe behaviour rather than simply enforcing safety.
Our approach:
- Facilitation of collaboration, communication and effective contractor coordination on a daily basis.
- Our team leading by example coupled with robust safety enforcement on site.
- Providing a secure site using biometric access control for the contractors and LEVC personnel.
- Strict enforcement of a permitting system for higher-risk activities and access to high-risk areas such as the roof and confined spaces.
- Strict in enforcement of site rules and standards
Our achievements:
- Zero RIDDOR reportable accidents.
- Zero impact on neighbours.
- Zero impact on neighbouring nature reserve.
- A high level of client satisfaction.