A national construction firm is working on a £4.8 million contract to upgrade a town centre car park.
Morgan Sindall Construction is carrying out repairs and improvements to the Swansgate multi-storey car park in Wellingborough.
It was appointed by Borough Council of Wellingborough as the main contractor for the shopping centre scheme through the Scape Regional Construction framework.
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Structural repairs will extend the life of the car park and expand the number of spaces by opening the rooftop for parking.
It is hoped improvements to the lighting and CCTV will help to tackle anti-social behaviour, while four of the parking bays will get electric charging points to support low-emission vehicles.
A Morgan Sindall spokesman said: “By opting to renovate the existing car park, the local authority has saved a significant amount in comparison to commissioning a new build.
“Construction of a replacement car park was estimated to cost more than double the project fee, while also negatively impacting visitor numbers to the adjacent Swansgate shopping centre and neighbouring retailers during the build process.”
The construction company said it had split the repairs and improvements into phases to ensure minimal disruption to people using the free car park, which will stay open throughout the 10-month programme.
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Work is currently underway and on schedule to finish early in 2021.
The spokesman said: “A major element to the project involves repair of the concrete frame, where the reinforced steel bar has begun to corrode causing the concrete to spall in more than 3,500 places.
“Traditionally, cutting the concrete open to carry out the work would require a three-person team operating in close proximity.”
To ensure the work is not delayed by social distancing restrictions the team will use high-pressure water jets, which can be operated individually, to break the concrete.
The contractor devised the solution with supplier Cemplas Limited.
The programme of improvement also includes work to refurbish the toilets, upgrade the fire alarm and sprinkler system, and fit more secure doors at the street level entrance points.
Rob Cant, Scape Regional Construction framework director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “Physical retail was facing challenging headwinds before coronavirus hit, and restrictions on public transport use brought in as a result of the pandemic have not helped matters.
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“The provision of secure and accessible car parking facilities is an essential consideration for local authorities looking to support the high street and safeguard jobs within brick-and-mortar stores.
“We’re very pleased to be working with Borough Council of Wellingborough to deliver an efficient programme of renovations and improvements to Swansgate car park, with minimal disruption to people using it.
“The work will safeguard the future of this important public amenity and ensure that shoppers who choose to visit the town centre have a safe and modern place to park.”
Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “Urban regeneration of the kind that is being driven by Borough Council of Wellingborough will be critical to unlocking a sustainable economic recovery.
“Morgan Sindall Construction will be upgrading this essential facility for the town’s community and its businesses with the modern, hi-tech innovation.
“This is a fantastic example of how construction teams have risen to the challenge of operating safely and intelligently during the pandemic.”
Wellingborough council leader Coun Martin Griffiths said: “This is one of a number of long-term investment projects in our town centre that will be completed before the vesting day of the new North Northamptonshire unitary council, and before the Borough Council of Wellingborough ceases to be, in the spring of next year.
“The car park will be totally transformed and will become a safe clean and pleasant facility for shoppers and visitors to our town.”