Balfour Beatty takes partners for nuclear bids

Balfour Beatty has announced a partnership with French nuclear energy group Areva to bid for nuclear reactor projects in the UK.

Construction of the first reactor could start in 2013 and the nuclear build programme could create up to 15,000 jobs over 25 years.

It has also formed a joint venture with Vinci Construction for project management, construction and civil engineering infrastructure schemes within the nuclear programme.

Ian Tyler, Balfour Beatty's chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be working with Areva. Balfour Beatty has a strong heritage in the nuclear sector and the breadth and depth of expertise to deliver large and complex multidisciplinary engineering and construction projects. We look forward to working together to deliver the EPR programme over the long term.”