PSTurner nets £38m lab deal

A PS Turner (Construction)-led consortium is preferred bidder for a £38 million private finance initiative scheme to rationalise the estates of the Health and Safety Laboratory. The contractor saw off a rival bid spearheaded by Aqumen, Mowlem's facilities management arm.

PS Turner, part of Allen and based in Keighley, West Yorkshire, will now negotiate final contract terms with the HSL.

A further announcement is due in spring 1999, on whether a PFI deal will go ahead.

The consortium's financial backers are Rotch Property Group and J Henry Schroder and Co.

The design team is led by Wakefield-based architect David Lyons and Associates and FM provider is Symonds.

As well as leading the consortium PS Turner will be the main contractor.

PS Turner's proposals involve centring all the HSL's activities at a Buxton site, where it is possible to conduct experimental work such as the investigation of fires and explosives.

The rationalisation will comprise the replacement of old, defective buildings with one purpose-built set of buildings.

Bidders had to submit revised bids in February this year after the initial bids were felt to need a large number of clarifications. The original bids were submitted in October 1997.