Lend Lease Reaches Financial Close on £71 Million Lancashire Schools Program

These projects will be delivered through Lend Lease’s integrated model led by Catalyst Lend Lease, with Bovis Lend Lease being responsible for the construction of all schools and Vita Lend Lease for the facilities management.

The Lancashire’s BSF program is part of a Government initiative to provide a new generation of sustainable secondary schools throughout England. The third phase of this program involves the funding, design and construction of two additional new schools, Hameldon Community College and The Rose School, as well as the rebuilding and extension of Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College. All these schools are located in Burnley and will accommodate over 2,000 pupils collectively.

Hameldon Community College and The Rose will be delivered via a 25-year PFI agreement that also includes the provision of ICT services and facilities management.

Blessed Trinity will be partially demolished and rebuilt under a design and buildcontract.

In addition to the schools in this phase, a separate £16 million design and construct contract has been agreed to refurbish and extend Accrington Academy in Accrington.

The academy will include a new 250-place sixth form and new sports facilities.

The new schools will be built and equipped to minimise energy consumption and carbon footprint, with biomass boilers, photovoltaic glazing, solar collection panels, and rainwater harvesting to reduce mains water consumption.

Mr Gary Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of Catalyst Lend Lease, said reaching financial close on Phase 3 and Accrington Academy is an important milestone for all involved in this ongoing partnership.

“The Lancashire Schools project demonstrates the success of public private partnerships in delivering important new social infrastructure and it reflects our company’s commitment to Lancashire’s educational aspirations.”

Construction of the Phase 3 schools started ahead of the contract signing under an early works agreement and the schools will open in September 2010. Work on Accrington Academy will be completed in stages, with final completion in December 2010.

Catalyst Lend Lease was chosen by Lancashire County Council in 2006 as its private sector partner for the £250 million first wave of the council’s BSF program to transform secondary schooling in and around Burnley and Nelson. The work is managed by a Local Education Partnership (LEP) jointly led by Lancashire County Council and Catalyst Lend Lease. The LEP’s first seven schools opened in September 2008.

Construction is well underway on four schools from Phase 2 and 2A of the project, with these schools scheduled to open in 2009/10.

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Marc Pallisco

A former property analyst and print journalist, Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au.