The Architects Journal reports that FAME member Aecom has become the latest engineering heavyweight to sign up to the design partner role on one of the joint ventures bidding for HS2 civils work. The firm has been chosen as partner for Morgan Sindall, Bam Nuttall and Ferrovial’s Fusion JV, as Construction News reveals a number of other leading consultants have been picked by consortia competing for £11.8bn of civils packages and £900m of enabling works.

Six of the seven teams shortlisted for enabling works on Phase One of the £56bn project now have a design partner in place, and it is possible that these teams will include archaeologists. Arcadis has been selected by the Carillion/Kier/Eiffage JV, with the Balfour Beatty/Vinci JV opting for Mott MacDonald. Arup is expected to partner with the Costain/Stabag/Skanska team, according to a source close to the project, while Bouygues/Volker/Sir Robert McAlpine’s Align JV has selected French firm Ingérop. The Align JV is also understood to be in discussions with another UK-based consultant to join its team.

Momentum Infrastructure, a JV made up of Galliford Try, Hochtief and Dragados, will work with Spanish firm INECO, the in-house designer for Spain’s national rail operator. FCC Construcción/Murphy/Laing O’Rourke has yet to reveal whether it had selected a design partner yet.

The news comes as the HS2 JVs begin to mobilise their teams ahead of the immenent release of tenders for the enabling works.

The shortlist for the eight civils packages is expected in April ahead of preferred bidders being revealed in early 2017.