Worcestershire County Council's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme plans are continuing to rapidly turn into reality following further Cabinet approval granted.

The council's Cabinet Members have given the green light to the BSF team starting the initial dialogue phase on Friday, June 4, with three short-listed interested bidders.

The latest progress follows hot on the heels of the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) Notice being issued by the council, which invited potential bidders to express an interest in helping to deliver the project by May 4.

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Councillor Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People (12-19 years), said: "We are delighted to have received the latest endorsement from Cabinet, which has paved the way forward for the next stage in our programme to take place.

"Nationally, there has been some uncertainty around the future funding of the overall BSF programme however, we would like to confirm that at this moment in time, we are proceeding to programme and have not received any other guidance in relation to any aspect of this programme."

The initial dialogue phase will involve a number of meetings taking place with bidders and representatives from the authority and sample schools – Bewdley and Stourport. This phase will close in early September and the bidders will be re-evaluated and reduced from three to two.

It is currently anticipated that the preferred bidder will be appointed in May next year and the financial close of contract will take place at the end of October next year.

(CD/GK)