QS firms and contractors line up for City Academy tenders

Plans are progressing for a wave of new City Academy projects following a slowdown in the programme after the May general election.

New schools across London and the UK are being tendered by QSs as well as future schemes planned by clients.

QS Davis Langdon has just tendered one project, the John Madejski Academy planned for Reading, to contractor Costain. The Wilkinson Eyre-designed scheme is being procured through a two-stage tender process. Other shortlisted contractors are understood to have included Mace, HBG and ISG Interior/Exterior.

Davis Langdon has also drawn up a shortlist of contractors, believed to include HBG, ISG Interior/Exterior, Taylor Woodrow and Mace, for a new £20m school in Greenwich, south East London, called the St Paul’s Academy.

The project, which will replace the Abbey Wood Secondary School, is due to go on site in January 2006 and to be completed in the summer 2007.

Davis Langdon has drawn up a shortlist of contractors

QS News also understands that charity the Oasis Trust is planning several new academies. The body already has plans for three – in Enfield, Grimsby and Immingham, Lincolnshire – but is believed to be looking at four more. A spokesman said the body was considering at more schools but would not be drawn on the number.

QS Gardiner & Theobald is believed to be working with the charity on the plans in conjunction with project manager Alligan, a firm that is working on 15 academy projects worth £400m.

The two firms are understood to be mulling the creation of a framework of contractors to work on the school in order to deliver the projects as quickly as possible. Both were unavailable to comment on the plans.

The Corporation of London has also confirmed it is looking to co-sponsor two academies, in Islington and in Hackney. A spokesperson said: “We are hoping to progress the planning of these over the summer.”