Establishing a Yorkshire Legacy: The origins of Pell Frischmann’s Highways and Transport sector
In 1981, a pivotal moment in British infrastructure history helped shape the future of Pell Frischmann. As part of a national shift to move highways delivery into the private sector, Pell Frischmann acquired a major West Yorkshire highways unit, bringing specialist engineers, live projects and deep technical expertise into the business. This acquisition marked the beginning of Pell Frischmann’s highways journey in Yorkshire and laid the foundations for what would become Pell Frischmann’s Highways and Transport sector.
The early 1980s marked a period of significant reform in the United Kingdom’s approach to highways delivery. Under the Government led by Margaret Thatcher, the Department of Transport restructured its Road Construction Units, transferring responsibility for the design and supervision of motorway and trunk road schemes into the private sector. These units combined Department of Transport engineers with local authority professionals, creating teams with substantial public sector experience.
Pell Frischmann saw the value in this and acquired the West Yorkshire highways unit covering the Kirkhamgate to Dishforth corridor, a strategically important route at the heart of the region’s motorway and trunk road network. More than a transfer of work, the acquisition marked Pell Frischmann’s long-term commitment to the region and established Wakefield as its Yorkshire base.
From National Investment to Lasting Capability
The work acquired in 1981 focused on the design and supervision of new motorways and trunk roads at a time when the national programme represented an investment of more than two billion pounds. These schemes demanded rigorous engineering, careful construction oversight and close collaboration with public bodies. This aligned strongly with Pell Frischmann’s multidisciplinary ethos and its commitment to technical excellence.
The expertise inherited through the West Yorkshire transfer strengthened Pell Frischmann’s ability to deliver highways projects from concept through to construction. Over subsequent decades, this capability evolved into a comprehensive Highways and Transport sector, spanning highways engineering, transport planning, traffic modelling, safety, policy advice and urban mobility. The sector’s roots in public sector delivery continue to influence its collaborative approach and long-standing relationships with government and local authorities.
Recognition and Impact
Our work in the region generated a catalogue of industry firsts and accolades. From the first DBFO highway in the UK on the A69 to the biggest DBFO highway in the UK on the A1(M).
The A69 Junction Improvements project picked up two Highly Commended awards at the 2022 Constructing Excellence North East awards, being recognised for both Client of the Year and Civils Project of the Year. The A69 Junction Improvement project demonstrated Pell Frischmann’s abilities to create standalone models, such as a 3D civil model and Structural Revit model, as well as the ability to produce large, federated models used for clash detection and design coordination. It was estimated that approximately £225,000 of construction cost was de-risked using Pell Frischmann’s Level 2 BIM approach.
The Darrington to Dishforth scheme yielded its own remarkable legacy beyond engineering. The construction of the A1(M) Darrington to Dishforth road scheme provided an important opportunity to investigate landscape development over time in parts of West and North Yorkshire. Over 60 archaeological sites were investigated in one of the largest programmes of archaeological fieldwork seen in the UK, including an Iron Age chariot burial, one of only 21 discovered in Britain.
Legacy and centenary reflection
This story highlights how Pell Frischmann has grown by responding to change, embracing responsibility and investing in people. From its Yorkshire foundations to its current national and international portfolio, the Highways and Transport sector (now known as the Highways sector and Urban Mobility sector) continues to reflect the values established in 1981. Technical excellence, collaboration and public service remain at its heart. Looking ahead, these same principles will guide Pell Frischmann as it shapes the future of transport and mobility for the next century.
