The government was to blow the starting whistle for the long-awaited £600m third round of the housing private finance initiative on Thursday.
Housing minister Keith Hill was expected to say that bids for the next round of the PFI would be due by 18 December, with the successful bidders notified by March next year.

Only £600m of the £685m earmarked in the Communities Plan has been made available for this third round as the ODPM said £85m had been retained to cover "contingencies".

The government was also expected to encourage councils to bid for larger schemes – in line with calls from the public and private sectors (HT 12 September, page 14).

In addition, housing minister Keith Hill was set to reveal the 2004/05 stock transfer programme – the second to be run this year after delays caused by the Communities Plan.

Councils will have to express an interest in the 2004/05 stock transfer round by 14 November, with final bids submitted by 19 December.

Source

Housing Today