In 2008, Halcrow celebrated its 40th birthday in Wales. Halcrow’s chief executive, Peter Gammie, said; “Halcrow’s success is due to our clients and all the people who work for us. We only succeed through the support of the communities we work in and our success here has come from the people of Wales.”
Halcrow began its work in Wales with a commitment to improve the lives of communities in South Wales, a commitment which continues to this day. In 1968, Halcrow was engaged by the former National Coal Board on a programme of colliery tip stabilisation schemes following the Aberfan Disaster. Halcrow’s purpose, sustaining and improving the quality of people’s lives has been the essence of its policy in Wales.
Halcrow in Wales plays a major role in the provision of multi-sectoral services and specialist skills locally, nationally and internationally. Based in Cardiff, we have over 100 members of staff living and working in Wales, eager to use their expert skills to improve Wales for its people and its future. We are one of Wales’s leading consultancies.
Evidence of Halcrow’s skills and ingenuity is visible throughout Wales.
As demand for road use has increased, Halcrow continues to provide leading-edge advice on policy and the implementation of strategies on walking, cycling and use of public transport to improve accessibility to our cities and around rural areas in Wales.
Halcrow is renowned for its bridge designs throughout the world, and not least as designer of the Second Severn Crossing. When opened in 1996, it was the longest cable stayed bridge in the world and was an award winning structure. Underneath it, Halcrow was also involved in maintaining the Severn Railway Tunnel.
Halcrow has helped transform the highways of Wales, designing new roads and road improvements, and maintaining and making better use of our existing highways. The latest schemes offer real improvements to the environment and safety. The A470 at Dolwyddelan in North Wales won the Prime Minister’s environment award and was ranked as the ‘greenest road in Britain’ by the National Farmers’ Union.
Halcrow’s work in Wales has led to it advising on the construction elements of the Cardiff Bay Barrage. We have provided expert advice on the impact of ground water to Cardiff Harbour Authority and others, including the Welsh Rugby Union, SWALEC and Transco.
Our commitment to making Wales a better country has included bringing marginal and derelict sites back into useful production and returning areas to communities. The early sites, like Maesglas and Baglan Moors, have been progressively developed since the early 1980s and this continues with our current work at the former steelworks sites at Ebbw Vale and Llanwern.
The secret to Halcrow’s success in Wales is attributable to the enthusiasm and expertise of its professional staff. They are genuinely committed to Wales and this is evident in all we do.