BAM tipped to scoop £50m West Sussex college project

BAM Construction has emerged as favourite for a £50m education-sector deal in West Sussex.

Insiders are putting their money on BAM Construction to scoop the first-stage tender award for the Northbrook College redevelopment project, but an official award is not expected for about another four weeks.

One source said: "If you win the first-stage tender, you're in the strongest position to win the whole shooting match - but it doesn't always happen that way.

"In fact, BAM itself looked home and dry on a job for the University of Wales after winning the first-stage exercise, but price issues led to the client giving the job to a rival bidder."

Work on site at Northbrook College's Broadwater campus is due to start next June.

Buildings on the present campus, which dates back to 1928, will all be demolished, with phased completion of the new build expected in 2012.

The revamp will span around 20,000m2 and will include classrooms, workshops and studios.

Kier Longley and Norwest Holst were among the firms that also pitched for the Northbrook job.

It is understood that BAM and local outfit Surgo Construction are now the only two firms left in the hunt for the £70m South Tyneside College revamp. But it is as yet unclear whether one or two contractors will tackle the split-site job at South Shields and at Hebburn.