Transform Schools subsidiary is named preferred bidder for £157m contract in Merseyside

Balfour Beatty’s subsidiary Transform Schools has won a £157m contract to build seven schools.

The deal is Balfour Beatty’s first as a concession company under the Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Merseyside’s Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council picked Transform, Balfour Beatty’s education PPP concession firm, as preferred bidder.

Construction and building services work will be carried out by Balfour Beatty Construction and Balfour Kilpatrick. Maintenance work will be performed by Balfour Beatty subsidiary Haden Building Management.

Financial close is due in the spring of 2007 and the scheme is expected to take three years to complete.

Balfour Beatty chief executive Ian Tyler said: "We are delighted to have been chosen by Knowsley Council to be their partner in this exciting project which will transform education provision in the area."

"We bring the experience gained not only from our work on five major schools PFI schemes but also lessons learned from project-based learning schemes in the UK, US, Australia and Asia."