Already building one Network Rail depot 鈥� or maintenance delivery unit (MDU) 鈥� in Lincolnshire, HBC has now been tasked with building one in Sheffield.
The latest 拢7.2m design and build contract was procured through a two-stage tender, replicating and evolving the approach used on the Barnetby MDU project in north Lincolnshire.
The Sheffield MDU will be a 15,000 sq ft facility at Network Rail鈥檚 Blast Lane depot. Works on site will begin next month, with completion scheduled for 2027.
The timber-frame main building is designed to meet Network Rail鈥檚 鈥楪reener Railway鈥� strategy and be net zero in operation, with heat recovery ventilation, smart lighting and controls, an enlarged rooftop solar PV array, improved building fabric and water management systems.
HBC鈥檚 project team has worked with Network Rail to optimise the building layout and reduce the footprint by more than 25% 鈥� cutting materials, costs, and operational energy use while improving functionality.
Standardising the structural grid and simplifying the building form allows for off-site construction and reduces waste, while internally, spaces have been reconfigured to enhance efficiency and support future flexibility.
During its first 20 years alone, the Sheffield MDU is projected to save around 850 tonnes of CO鈧俥, equivalent to 42.5 tonnes per year, compared with a traditional design.
HBC Construction was until recently part of Henry Boot plc until a management buyout, which completed on 31st December 2025.
Managing director Lee Powell said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to be partnering with Network Rail once again on another forward-thinking MDU scheme, building on the strong progress of our Barnetby project.
鈥淩epeat business of this nature reflects the trust and collaboration we鈥檝e built with Network Rail and showcases how our pre-construction function delivers real benefits for our clients. This new facility will set another benchmark for sustainable design and timber-frame delivery across Yorkshire and the wider region.鈥�
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