Willmott Dixon has secured the sole contractor framework run by Scape, the local authority owned company that offers off-the-peg procurement solutions to public sector clients.
According to reports, Willmott Dixon was able to see off competition from five national rivals to land the £1bn four-year major frameworks contract.
The shortlist for the deal was made up of Bouygues, Interserve, Laing O’Rourke, Lend Lease, Morgan Sindall and Willmott Dixon, according Construction News and Construction Enquirer.
Construction work under the new deal will start next month and the framework will last four-years.
Scape System Build is owned by Derby City, Derbyshire County, Gateshead, Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire County and Warwickshire County Councils. It carries out projects for this group, but also delivers publicly tendered work for other public sector clients.
The news follows another boost for Willmott Dixon last month when its subsidiary Be Here secured financial backing from financial giant M&G to build homes in the private rented sector.
According to a report in Inside Housing, M&G will provide loan funding to build at least 1,000 rented homes on sites in urban areas, aimed at young professional renters.
Councils and other landowners will put in the land in return for an equity stake in the final development. Once the Be Here scheme is fully let the developer will sell on its interest or re-finance and repay the loan.
The first scheme, in Tower Hamlets in east London, will include around 300 homes for rent, 100 of which will be for affordable rent. The homes will be managed by local housing association Poplar Harca. Be Here’s motto is “rent well spent”.
