Three in the running for £60m Worcester PFI deal

Worcester County Council has ticked off the names of three groups to pitch for its £60m-plus PFI schools deal.
The line up for the Bromsgrove Grouped Schools scheme is Axiom (headed up by Galliford-Try), Equion/Laing O'Rourke and HBG PFI Projects.
A project source said: "We had a great response from contractors to our scheme. There were 10 serious applications initially, but unfortunately two arrived too late to meet the deadline and they couldn't be included in the mix."
It is understood that troubled contractor Jarvis was not among the outfits to register interest in the scheme.
"The Worcester scheme involves building seven new schools with full facilities management opportunities available and all within a relatively small area with a good communications infrastructure," the source said.
The project comprises two high schools, two middle schools and three first schools.
The county council will acquire two new sites for the deal, with the remaining schools being rebuilt at their present locations.
The three contestants have until 22 December to price the deal. A preferred bidder is expected to emerge next March, with financial close due around September 2005. A start on site is expected early in 2006, with the first schools due to be completed in 2007.
The entire project is due for completion during the following year. The maintain and operate concession will run for 30 years.