Brighton sewage work down to the final two

Southern Water now has only has two teams to choose from for a £200m deal to build a massive sewage treatment plant near Brighton. Sources say that Skanska, a third outfit selected to price the deal, has pulled out of the contest.

The reasons why are not clear, but other would-be contenders have been deterred by what they claimed were “the very strict tender conditions imposed by the client”.

This leaves a consortium of Amec/Gleeson/Morgan Est still in the pipeline with rivals Costain/United Utilities/Montgomery Watson Harza. The eventual winner of the target cost duel is expected to surface by the close of this month.

The scheme, known as the Brighton and Hove Wastewater Treatment Project, features a treatment works and sludge recycling centre at Lower Hoddern Farm in Peacehaven.

Also included are a new 11km underground sewer between Brighton and Peacehaven, a 2.5km- long sea outfall, plus pumping station.

[Contract Journal, 11 October 2006, p15]