Skanska-Laing consortium in line for 25 year lighting project

A Skanska and John Laing consortium has been announced as the preferred bidder for the Croydon and Lewisham street lighting PFI project. The 50/50 consortium was previously behind the Surrey street lighting project in 2009.

Negotiations between the consortium and the boroughs of Croydon and Lewisham are expected to conclude soon, with the contract due to be awarded in the spring. Under the terms of the contract, the consortium will have responsibility for the design, build, finance and operation of the boroughs’ lighting and other street furniture, for a 25 year period. This initially includes the replacement of 38,000 street lights and 8,000 street signs and bollards.

Steve Sams, executive vice president of Skanska’s infrastructure wing, said his company was looking forward “to providing safer, energy efficient public lighting services for the people of Croydon and Lewisham.”

Andy Pearson, head of transport at John Laing, said they would work with the councils and Skanska “to deliver an efficient, ’best in class’ and value for money street lighting service to the residents and ratepayers of Croydon and Lewisham.”