Exclusive: Willmott Dixon has been chosen as preferred bidder for Scape’s much-coveted £1bn major works framework

Sunesis Willmott Dixon

Willmott Dixon has been chosen as the preferred bidder for Scape’s much-coveted £1bn major works framework

Building understands that contractors were told this week that Willmott Dixon has been chosen as the preferred bidder for public sector procurement body Scape’s national major works framework, which is worth up to £1.25bn over four years.

Willmott Dixon won the sole contractor role on the framework on the previous two occasions it was tendered, while Skanska won the role the first-time around.

Willmott Dixon saw off competition from Laing O’Rourke, Interserve, Morgan Sindall, Bouygues, and Lend Lease for the job, which is worth around triple the £350m in projects that Willmott Dixon has won on the current framework.

Scape chief executive Mark Robinson told Building last year that Scape was looking for a contractor to provide “a lot more support with regeneration projects and funding delivery” after conducting market testing with clients”.

Over 125 public sector clients procure work through Scape, with projects including a wide range of buildings, including schools, care homes, leisure centres as well as residential buildings.

Scape is owned by six local authorities - Gateshead council, Debyshire council, Derby city council, Nottinghamshire council, Nottingham city council and Warwickshire council - and reinvests surpluses back into the business.

Willmott Dixon and Scape have been contacted for comment.