Creative AfA Delivery Overcomes The Challenges of Small Heritage Stations
There’s an old joke about somebody giving directions and starting with the phrase: “Well, I wouldn’t start from here…” Sometimes Access for All (AfA) projects feel like that. Stations selected for full step-free access upgrades should be chosen on the basis of which ones will deliver the biggest benefits in terms of increased access and […]
Leaving a legacy in Weston, The Octavius Way
Octavius’ annual Leaving a Legacy initiative this year focused on Weston-super-Mare’s Bournville neighbourhood. While the company adheres to firm social value targets in all of its projects, Leaving a Legacy takes this to the next level by channelling significant resources into a project that will create meaningful, lasting improvements for a community in which the […]
Okehampton Interchange: Enabling regional growth, at speed
About the project Okehampton Interchange is a new-build station, necessary to support local authorities’ regional growth strategies. Octavius is the project’s design and build contractor, which was awarded under Network Rail’s Wales and Western Framework. Part of Devon’s Dartmoor Line, in form and function Okehampton typifies a new generation of stations being created across the […]
Harmonising delivery: The importance of the integrator
Diverse stakeholders are a hallmark of the transformative projects many combined authorities are looking to implement, so a delivery partner able to integrate and align competing priorities with project goals is key to success. A complex matrix of network users, stakeholder agencies and suppliers is often a defining feature of combined authority transport infrastructure projects. […]
Social value champion: How to embed social value creation
Putting social value at the heart of project delivery is one of the many ways Octavius delivers the wider benefits that a modern, integrated transport network can bring to local communities For Octavius, ensuring the communities we work alongside are still able to thrive during our presence is as important as the infrastructure we create. […]
Charfield Station New Build: Enabling an attractive alternative to car travel
About the project Charfield is among a host of new railway stations nationwide being built by local authorities to meet their transformative regional transport needs. With South Gloucestershire Council leading on the scheme, Octavius is working on behalf of Network Rail and alongside Great Western Railway to deliver the project. South Gloucestershire village, Charfield, sits […]
Frameworks: Embedding repeatable social value success
Social value champion: How to embed social value creation
Putting social value at the heart of project delivery is one of the many ways Octavius delivers the wider benefits that a modern, integrated transport network can bring to local communities For Octavius, ensuring the communities we work alongside are still able to thrive during our presence is as important as the infrastructure we create. […]
Harmonising delivery: The importance of the integrator
Diverse stakeholders are a hallmark of the transformative projects many combined authorities are looking to implement, so a delivery partner able to integrate and align competing priorities with project goals is key to success. A complex matrix of network users, stakeholder agencies and suppliers is often a defining feature of combined authority transport infrastructure projects. […]
Successful AfA Schemes Help Build Public Trust In Rail
Throughout its history, it’s fair to say that the British public has had a bit of a love-hate relationship with its railways. This reflects the importance that rail transport has in our lives, culture and prosperity – it’s something we care about. Feelings tend to be even more mixed when it comes to the infrastructure […]
AfA: Improving Lives and Boosting Local Economies
Economic growth is probably the biggest Government priority right now. The capacity to promote economic growth is a universal yardstick against which all potential investments are measured. So it’s not unexpected to ask where Access for All (AfA) schemes fit in. How do they help generate economic growth – both locally and nationally? Looking at […]
To Deliver AfA For Communities, You Must Deliver With Communities
Judging whether any project is a success depends on your viewpoint. With Access for All (AfA) schemes, you certainly need a wide range of perspectives to determine whether all relevant needs and priorities have been met. We cannot successfully solve access problems without involving people with lived experience. And beyond the functional needs of providing […]