Interserve and Skanska are leading rival consortiums in a race to win the contract for a controversial £80m asylum centre in Oxfordshire.
The scheme is part of the government's new policy on accommodating asylum seekers in non-urban areas.

The government announced that it would press ahead with the scheme, despite the planning inspectorate's advice against using a site near Bicester. Beverley Hughes, the immigration minister, had pledged at a community meeting with the Bicester Action Group last year to abide by the inspectorate's findings.

The winning team will design, build and maintain a 750-person centre on a 34 acre former Ministry of Defence site. There will be space for 400 men, 50 single women and 300 family members, as well as a doctor's surgery, shops and leisure facilities.

Interserve's team includes services provider UKDS, who would run the centre. Skanska's team is thought to include Premier Custodial Group, part of Serco.

Other consortiums rumoured to be interested include Group 4–Carillion, and Costain–Securicor.