Three firms to bid again for Glasgow PFI hospital

At least three of the groups that originally prequalified for an aborted private finance hospital project in Glasgow are anxious for a second bite of the cherry.

Early last year, teams including HBG, Amec and Sir Robert McAlpine were among those shortlisted for an ambulatory care and diagnostic centre at Stobhill hospital.

But the project, then worth £25m, was put on ice while the Greater Glasgow Health Board carried out a review of acute services in the area.

The result is a beefed-up version of the original scheme, now valued at around £50m.

An industry insider said: "Three of the bidders want to tender again. They feel that the first time round they already put a lot of effort in.

"Although the new scheme is very different, they don't want all that work to go to waste and want to snatch something out of the fire."

It is not yet clear whether a fourth contender, Italian outfit Impregilo, will go for the job the second time around.

A hospital spokesman said: "We are expecting health minister Malcolm Chisholm to ratify the project very soon - hopefully next month - and immediately afterwards we will re-advertise it in the OJEC."