Infrastructure contractor Murphy has completed what is understood to be the first permanent works application of Ecocem ACT in the UK, using the low-carbon concrete in the construction of a capping beam at the Shipley Depot project.
The works were delivered in partnership with Breedon and Ecocem Global, with the material used for the capping beam cast on a contiguous pile wall.
The milestone follows earlier trials of the material, including a large single pour at Uxbridge Moor, which Murphy previously described as the largest UK use of Ecocem ACT at the time.
Murphy expects the use of Ecocem ACT across the full set of pile caps for the wall to deliver a carbon saving of 145kgCO₂e per cubic metre compared with a standard CIII/A concrete mix.
The company equated this to the annual electricity use of around 20 UK homes, or an average car travelling around the world twice.
Engineering team highlights innovation and decarbonisation focus
Kyle Stott, Engineering Manager at Murphy, said: “This latest pour is both an example of innovation utilised for the good of the engineering industry, and a further demonstration of our commitment to creating a greener Murphy, becoming net positive by 2050.”
Once completed, Shipley Depot will form part of the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), a multi-billion-pound programme of rail improvements across the North of England.
Murphy is delivering works as part of the TRU East alliance, alongside Network Rail, VolkerRail, Siemens and SYSTRA, on the York to Leeds section of the scheme.
The programme aims to improve journey times, reliability and capacity between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, forming part of wider upgrades to rail infrastructure across the Pennines.
