Press Release
18 January 2008
Dumfries & Galloway Council signs up to £100m schools investment
UK law firm McGrigors LLP has advised on the £100 million Dumfries and Galloway Schools’ Public Private Partnership Project.
The project will deliver nine new schools and one refurbishment and extension. Construction is due to start in early 2008 with the first new school expected to be completed in 2009. The work will be carried out on a phased basis with several schools being constructed simultaneously.
The schools will all be new build, with the exception of Stranraer Academy which will be extended and refurbished. The new schools are Wallace Hall Primary and Secondary in Thornhill; Castle Douglas Primary; Kirkcudbright Primary; Moffat All-Through School; Lockerbie Primary and Secondary; and two new primaries in Dumfries: Heathhall and the replacement of St Andrew’s RC.
The Project Company E4d&g is led by Amey, one of the leading integrated support service providers in the UK, and includes Cyril Sweett, an international construction and property consultancy. Amey will deliver the Facilities Management when the schools are operating and FMP will deliver the construction contract. FMP brings together three well known contractors from Ireland: Farrans, H&J Martin and The Patton Group. All three companies are committed to using local contractors, suppliers and labour to carry out much of the construction work.
Wendy Nicolson from McGrigors’ energy and infrastructure team, said: “This is a landmark deal for the firm and McGrigors is delighted to have worked closely with Dumfries and Galloway Council to help them deliver new schools across the region.
“McGrigors has acted on over 150 PPP projects across the UK. The Dumfries and Galloway Schools programme is our 42nd project in the UK education sector to have reached financial close and we are currently involved in a number of other projects in this sector. Public Private Partnership projects are a continued area of growth for our Infrastructure Practice."
Philip Jones, Dumfries and Galloway Council chief executive, said: "The signing of this contract is an important milestone for Dumfries and Galloway Council and represents the culmination of complex and detailed work over a number of years.
“Throughout this process, council members have maintained a consistent focus on achieving a major improvement in school provision in Dumfries and Galloway and it is good news that this commitment has now been rewarded."
For further information please contact:
Louisa Hollins
Financial Dynamics
Telephone - +44 (0) 20 7269 7108
Email - Louisa.hollins@fd.com
Andy Peat
Financial Dynamics
Telephone - +44 (0) 20 7269 7185
Email - andy.peat@fd.com