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Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK’s expertise and high-spec machinery have played a key role in the major peatland restoration at Craig Murrail 275kV Substation.
As part of the activity in Lochgilphead, Argyll, there is a significant focus on reducing carbon emissions, restoring hydrology, and improving biodiversity across the region.
This is supported by Peatland ACTION, a Scottish initiative led by NatureScot that reinstates damaged peatlands to combat climate change and aligns with the government’s aim to re-establish 250,000 hectares by 2030.
The SSEN Transmission-owned substation required the excavation of more than 60,000m3 of peat to construct the platform and associated infrastructure. Rather than disposing of this material, the vast majority – around 50,500m3 – was earmarked for reuse.
The chosen restoration technique was cell bunding and infill, which involves creating a grid of small peat bunds across degraded, previously forested sites to raise water tables and reinstate bog conditions.
A significant advantage to the work undertaken by Jones Bros was the ability to utilise its own plant and equipment throughout the project.
Low ground pressure excavators with wide tracks were essential for operating across the sensitive and saturated peat surface and long reach earthmovers allowed for material to be accurately placed all without causing any further land disturbance.
The surplus peat was transported directly from the substation activity to the restoration sites using the company’s fleet of Volvo A30 articulated dump trucks, enabling efficient movement whilst minimising double-handling.
Jones Bros Senior Contracts Manager Eryl Evans said: “The benefit of having one of the largest plant fleets in the UK, coupled with continuous investment, is that we can undertake more complex schemes.
“It was crucial to use an integrated approach, using a single coordinated fleet across both the construction and restoration phases, and having our own machinery allowed for both efficient delivery and a high-quality outcome.
“A perfect example of this is our PC490, which has a 30-metre-reach. This was key in the successful delivery of the design, helping reduce the number of tracks required to be constructed to reach the peat cells.”
Jones Bros was also able to utilise the close relationship it has with Cambrian Services, which processed stone that came directly from on-site borrow pits via its fleet of mobile crushers.
Eryl continued: “Rather than importing material from external quarries and adding considerable haulage cost, programme time, and negatively impacting the carbon footprint, we called on Cambrian.
“This approach allowed stone production to be closely coordinated with construction demand, ensuring a continuous supply of suitable material at the right specification.
“It was fantastic to showcase a joined-up approach to resource management to protect the environment and ensure the scheme was completed on schedule.”
Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.
The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, reservoirs, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.
The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced nearly 40 per cent of its current workforce, with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited hundreds of apprentices over the years.
