Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has announced it has been appointed preferred bidder for the £800 million Essex Waste Partnership's Residual Waste Treatment Contract.

The project, a 30:70 joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Urbaser, is a 28-year PPP contract to design, build and operate a new sustainable waste treatment facility for Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.

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Balfour Beatty will invest 30% of the required equity, approximately £7 million, in the project which is expected to reach financial close in the first half of 2012. Balfour Beatty, in joint venture with Urbaser, will be involved in the design, construction and commissioning of the facility, following which the facility will be handed over to Urbaser to operate from mid-2015 onwards.

Once operational, the facility will be capable of treating up to 417,000 tonnes of municipal waste a year. As well as treating waste, the facility will incorporate a visitor and education centre for the benefit of the local community.

Today's announcement comes just three weeks after Balfour Beatty and Urbaser were awarded Gloucestershire’s 28-year Residual Waste Project.

(CD/GK)