Heery wins £25m Cutty Sark job

Heery International has beaten off two rivals to win the construction management role on the £25m job to secure the future for the Cutty Sark ship. The firm edged out bids from Gardiner & Theobald Management Services and Mace to win the scheme, which will take two years to complete. Work is due to start on the project on Monday (6 November).

The scheme will be part restoration of the fabric of the ship itself and permanently lifting the Cutty Sark itself up around three metres. This will take the load off the bottom of the berth and also open up 1,000m² of space below the ship for visitors to view the ship.

The project team on the scheme also includes project manager Hornagold & Hills, QS Walfords, engineering consultancy Buro Happold and joint architects Youmeheshe and Grimshaw.

The scheme received a boost last month after the Heritage Lottery Fund confirmed a commitment of £11.75m towards the overall £25m budgeted for the project. The scheme, expected to take two years to complete, will preserve the fabric of the ship itself, which has been decaying in a dry dock in Greenwich for the last five years. The 19th century vessel will be lifted and suspended three metres above her current position, allowing visitors to walk, dine or dance under her and for the first time to appreciate the shape of the ship. A glass bubble surrounding the ship will give year-round protection to visitors.