The delivery of the Walsall Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) and Waste Transfer Station (WTS) is already creating measurable, lasting benefits for the people of Walsall and the wider West Midlands. The project was delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction through the Major Works Framework, which we manage on behalf of contracting authority Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust. The £33 million infrastructure investment demonstrates how purpose-led procurement can unlock meaningful social, environmental and economic value alongside essential public services.
Commissioned to enhance waste management capacity and futureproof local infrastructure, the Walsall HWRC and WTS project represents a critical step forward in reducing landfill reliance and increasing recycling rates. Through a comprehensive, data-led approach to social value, measured and verified using Loop platform, the project is not only transforming waste services, but strengthening communities, creating employment pathways and delivering environmental innovation.
Delivering measurable social value
Since commencing on 1 April 2024, the project has already generated £963,703 in verified social value, achieving a Return on Investment (ROI) of 3.01% through Loop. This robust measurement ensures transparency, accountability and long-term community benefit.
A strong commitment to local employment underpins delivery, with 68% of the workforce drawn from the local area. This focus on regional labour not only supports household incomes but also builds local skills capacity and keeps economic benefit within Walsall.
Spend targets have also been exceeded, reinforcing inclusive economic growth:
- 78% spend with SME supply chain partners (target 75%)
- 65% spend within 30 miles of site (target 60%)
- £47,613 spent with VCSE organisations (target £25,000)
These achievements highlight how the Major Works Framework enables contractors to embed local prosperity directly into project delivery.
Creating jobs, skills and pathways into employment
The project has significantly outperformed its employment and skills targets, ensuring that the benefits of construction extend well beyond the site boundary.
Impact to date includes:
- 21 apprenticeships and NVQs delivered (target 10)
- 11 workless or new job starts (target 10)
- 5 graduate and work experience placements (target 6)
- 13 careers, school engagement and STEM activities (target 5)
- 102 hours of charitable volunteering (target 100)
Educational initiatives have included CITB Health & Safety Awareness Training and structured work experience opportunities, alongside engagement with local schools and colleges. Events such as the Nick Mowl Cup Charity Tournament supporting Kaleidoscope Plus Group, Aldridge School Work Experience Day and Mock Interview Days have helped young people build confidence, develop employability skills and better understand career pathways within construction and infrastructure.
The team has also supported an application for Walsall’s first VIY (Volunteer It Yourself) work experience project, securing funding through the Landfill Communities Fund – further extending opportunity to young people who may otherwise face barriers to employment.
Strengthening community partnerships
Community support has been a consistent priority throughout delivery. Morgan Sindall Construction has continued donations to Acorns Hospice through proceeds generated from the sale of recycled metals from the project, raising over £8,500 to date. This initiative ensures that environmental responsibility directly translates into tangible social benefit for families across the region.
By embedding charitable giving, volunteering and local partnerships into the construction programme, the project team has created a culture of engagement that extends far beyond contractual requirements.
Driving environmental excellence
As a waste and recycling facility, environmental performance is central to the project’s purpose. However, the team has gone significantly further than baseline expectations.
To date, 99% of construction waste has been diverted from landfill, exceeding the 96% target. Through the implementation of Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions digital carbon calculator, CarboniCa, the team has achieved a reduction of 354 tonnes of CO₂ – dramatically surpassing the initial 10-tonne target.
Additional environmental commitments include:
- Air quality improvement measures
- Proactive carbon management
- Positive biodiversity legacy planning
- Water consumption reduction strategies
These outcomes ensure that the facility will not only support long-term recycling and energy generation but also leave a measurable environmental legacy.
A legacy of purpose-led delivery
The Walsall HWRC and WTS project stands as a powerful example of how the Major Works Framework enables infrastructure to become a vehicle for social transformation. By aligning employment, education, environmental innovation and community investment under a single, measurable strategy, Morgan Sindall Construction has ensured that this £33 million development delivers far more than physical assets.
With nearly £1 million in verified social value already generated – and further impact forecast as works progress – the project is strengthening Walsall’s economy, supporting local people into work, investing in young people’s futures and advancing sustainability ambitions.
Elliott Talbot, Senior Category Manager at Pagabo, said:
“The Walsall HWRC project demonstrates how the Major Works Framework can drive measurable outcomes that truly matter to communities. Morgan Sindall Construction has embedded social value at every stage, ensuring that local people, businesses and the environment all benefit from this significant investment.”
Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction added:
“Through our commitment to delivering social value and supporting the next generation of construction professionals, we’ve built a lasting connection with the local community and very much look forward to continuing our relationship with Walsall Council in future.”
As the project reaches completion it continues to set a benchmark for how waste infrastructure can contribute to wider social impact – reinforcing Pagabo’s commitment to enabling public sector clients and contractors to deliver measurable community benefit far beyond the build.
Explore how we enable Social Value
Find out more on the Major Works Framework
Discover our frameworks
Subscribe to our mailing list, to keep up to date with Pagabo news
Related articles
Safeguarding a community sports facility: Stafford Road Sports Club, Bloxwich
