Interserve and its joint venture partner Kajima Partnerships, have been appointed preferred bidder by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) for the first batch of schools to be funded using the Government’s new PF2 private finance route.

With an estimated capital value in excess of £100 million, the scheme, procured under the Priority School Building Programme, consists of seven secondary schools located across Hertfordshire, Luton and Reading.

-- Advertisement --

More than 8,900 pupils will benefit from the construction programme, with classes at each school to be taught in new, purpose-built buildings.

Interserve Kajima will be responsible for the design and construction of the schools as well as the provision of maintenance and lifecycle services over a 25-year period.

The secondary schools included in this Hertfordshire, Luton and Reading batch are Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School, Hatfield; Goffs School, near Cheshunt; Kings Langley School, Kings Langley; Longdean School, Hemel Hempstead; Reading Girls’ School, Reading; Stopsley High School, Luton; and Westfield Academy, Watford.

The next stage for EFA, Interserve Kajima and the schools is to engage in a six month detailed design stage through to financial close. Construction is due to start from November 2014 through to March 2015, with planned completions due August 2016.

(CD/MH)