Morgan Ashurst bags £26m Bircham Newton NCC deal

Morgan Ashurst has held off four rivals to surface as preferred bidder for a £26m deal to redevelop the National Construction College's (NCC) flagship campus at Bircham Newton.

Galliford Try, Kier Regional, Wates and local outfit RG Carter also priced the scheme. 

The college has already sent in a detailed planning application to the Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, which is expected to rule on the project in January 2009.

If the scheme gets the green light, work on site should kick off next autumn on the 18-month scheme.

The two-stage tender design and build job includes redeveloping training and welfare facilities, accommodation blocks, plus retail and leisure projects.

The Learning and Skills Council will fund up to 80% of the costs, the balance coming from the college and the East of England Development Agency.

Earlier this year, the Planning Inspectorate quashed the NCC's hopes of also building 24 homes on the site and of revamping its ageing swimming pool, forcing the NCC to scale down the scope of its plans.

The housing development was part of NCC's plan to raise cash to revamp its campus. 

NCC East will be the national hub for the National Skills Academy for Construction and provide training in specialist construction skills and for managers and graduates.