Seven schools cut from Argyll’s alternative PFI

A further seven schools have been dropped from the project, which is near financial close. This follows a cull in July last year, when the original list of 29 schools was reduced to 17.

An Argyll and Bute Council spokeswoman told CJ: “We had to obtain value for money and so not all schools could be included. One of the problems is the geography: the schools are spread across a wide area.”

The scheme is trialling a PFI-alternative, known as a Non-Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO). The NPDO allows for the re-investment of surpluses from the operation of the contract back into the schools estate.

Preferred bidder Precept (including Precept Project Management, Laing O’Rourke, Barr Construction and Dickie Construction) declined to comment on the latest development.

Seven of the 10 schools will be on joint campuses. Precept’s original proposal for three joint campuses met with protests from parents.