Three London PFI projects shortlisted

by Michael Gordon



Three London private finance initiative (PFI) projects have now been whittled down to two final bidders.

The schemes include three new police stations in Lewisham, Bromley, and Sutton, a police firearms and public order training facility in Gravesend, and a grouped schools project for the London Borough of Haringey.

Babcock and Brown and the Jarvis Group are the remaining bidders for the £40 million scheme covering ten schools in Haringey. The work includes a mixed scheme of new build and the refurbishment and remodelling of existing schools.

The facilities management element is estimated to cost around £7 million a year over the 25-year concession period. The preferred bidder is expected to be announced in December.

Jarvis is also in the running, along with a joint venture between Laing and Hyder, for the £30 million firearms unit contract. Work includes the alteration and upgrading of existing premises and the design and construction of a firearms training facility in Gravesend, incorporating internal and external live firing ranges and tactical training areas.

Laing/Hyder is fighting it out with Babcock and Brown for the construction of three new divisional police stations in south London. The contract includes the provision of mounted-branch stables, area headquarters, area crime operational control unit, and a scientific support command unit.

The Metropolitan Police District is expected to make a decision next month on a preferred bidder, and aims to award the contract early in 2000. The remaining bidders fought off competition from Alfred McAlpine. A consortium of WS Atkins, Costain, Skanska, and Securicor pulled out of the bidding in March 1999.