Equion preferred bidder on £97m schools project

Equion plc, a division of infrastructure developer John Laing plc, has today (Tuesday)been confirmed as preferred bidder to deliver seven new schools for Swindon (as tipped in CJ).

The PFI project, in which Equion will design, build, finance and operate the new schools, has a whole life value of £97m and a capital cost of £68m.

The contract will run for 25 years from completion of the construction, during which time Equion will also provide facilities management services including on site cleaning, maintenance and catering.

The seven schools include two secondary schools, three primary schools and two special schools for pupils with severe learning difficulties.

The project includes the creation of a pioneering Learning Campus containing four schools, a cyber cafe, sports facilities, a physiotherapy and speech therapy unit and a hydrotherapy pool. The facilities will also be made available to the wider community as well as to local health and social services professionals.

Chief executive of Swindon Borough Council, Simon Birch said: "We believe that a partnership approach is the best way forward and look forward to working with Equion to bring about a successful long term partnership that will allow the schools involved to develop and flourish further. 

John Cann, Director of Equion plc said: "As a leading provider in education PFI, we will draw on our extensive track record to deliver this project in partnership with Swindon Borough Council."

The North Swindon schools consortium comprises Equion plc as the equity investor, Equion FM as facilities management provider, the Architects Co-Partnership (ACP), the contractor Laing O'Rourke and funder Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein.