News

Highways Awards Finalist for Groundbreaking Great Crested Newt Conservation Project

We are proud to share that, alongside Octavius, we have been shortlisted for the Sustainable Project of the Year Award at the Highways Awards for our teams pioneering work supporting National Highways' first Organisational Licence for Great Crested Newts.

The recognition celebrates an innovative, landscape-scale approach to conservation that enables essential M25 maintenance works to be carried out safely while delivering long-term biodiversity benefits. Through the licence, we are helping fund a 100-hectare habitat restoration project in Hampshire, creating new ponds, wetlands and connected habitats that support species recovery and ecosystem resilience.

With hundreds of entries submitted each year, being named a finalist is a significant achievement and reflects the dedication and collaboration of everyone involved in the project.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

The award ceremony is being held on 23rd September.

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Notes to Editors

About Connect Plus and Connect Plus Services:

  • In 2009, National Highways awarded Connect Plus a 30-year contract to operate and manage the M25 and its key arterial link roads. It continues to be National Highways’ flagship public finance initiative (PFI) and is the largest highways PFI project ever awarded in the UK.
  • Connect Plus is a consortium that includes Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Investment Partners - a unique partnership with a collective strength in highways maintenance and management.
  • Connect Plus Services (CPS), is Connect Plus’ specialist and strategic supply chain partner responsible for operations and maintenance, bringing together the collective strength and expertise of its parent companies, Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis.
  • With a workforce of 780 people, based at seven locations around the network, CPS carries out routine maintenance, and whole-life management of thousands of M25 assets. CPS manages the operation of the network 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including a severe weather season maintenance programme.
  • For further information please visit: https://www.connectplusm25.co.uk/