This new collaboration includes major projects and professional design services, in association with The Project Centre, highway maintenance works to carriageways, footways and street lighting, together with winter maintenance and gully cleansing as well as 24/7 cover for emergency repairs.

The business has already worked with Luton on several standalone schemes, such as surfacing works on the Luton to Dunstable guided busway and high quality pedestrianisation works within Luton town centre.

The new contract supports the Council’s wider corporate objectives, including an asset management based approach to infrastructure delivery and is available for use by neighbouring authorities. The contract will deliver annual efficiency savings and significant value in terms of employment, training and skills for Luton.

Councillor Paul Castleman, portfolio holder for highways at Luton Borough Council said: “This is a unique milestone for the Council with a ten year collaboration with VolkerHighways and The Project Centre, to help us improve the quality of our infrastructure and to support the delivery of Luton’s £1.5 billion Investment Framework.”

Alistair Thompson, managing director of VolkerHighways said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract and to be continuing our relationship with Luton Borough Council for the next ten years. As well as providing a continuity of highway maintenance service to the residents and road users of Luton, this contract will allow us to strengthen our existing relationships across the borough’s various communities. VolkerHighways looks forward to working collaboratively with Luton Borough Council in this exciting new agreement which brings together all the highways infrastructure disciplines, from design to routine and reactive maintenance as well as lighting and winter gritting.”