London courts go back to tender

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has re-advertised the £30m central London courts PFI scheme, following the government’s decision to pull the plug on the original project earlier this year (CJ 18 May).

Equion, John Laing’s private finance arm, was in line to win the project, but was left empty handed. Rivals Mowlem/Centreland and Babcock & Brown/Berkeley Homes had either been sidelined or pulled out by that stage.

The original scheme was advertised in May 2003 under the aegis of the Greater London Magistrates’ Court Authority, but was re-assigned to the Department of Constitutional Affairs in April this year.

The new scheme calls for between 16,000m2 and 25,000m2 of court accommodation. Firms have until 26 September to register interest.