London-based architect David Long has formed a joint venture with French architect Brunet Saunier to target UK healthcare PFI projects.
The joint venture plans to offer its services to PFI contractors, including French company Bouygues, and health authorities. It will target projects costing up to £40m.

Long runs a six-strong commercial practice, David Long Associates, which specialises in office buildings. Brunet Saunier, with a core staff of 15 in Paris, has designed more than 20 hospitals and clinics throughout France.

Long said: "We have a track record of health and education buildings won on architectural quality."

Before setting up his own practice in 2000, Long headed a healthcare design joint venture established by two large US architects, Kohn Pedersen Fox and Cannon.

"The venture was unsuccessful, because they expected to walk into work worth hundreds of millions of pounds," said Long. "Our venture will succeed because we are talking about much smaller schemes."