Monday, August 23, 2004
A consortium led by Equion, a division of infrastructure developer John Laing plc, and Amey plc, the support services specialist, has signed a £45million PFI contract for the provision of criminal justice facilities in Bristol and Somerset.
The Avon and Somerset courts project was the first cross-departmental PFI contract to be signed involving the Department for Constitutional Affairs as sponsor of magistrates’ courts, and the Home Office as sponsor of the Probation Service.
The contract is for the design, build, finance and operation of new and improved accommodation for Avon and Somerset Magistrates’ Courts and Avon and Somerset Probation. The Bristol facility will form part of a major city-centre redevelopment project, led by the Equion/Amey consortium, to modernise the central bus station and provide much-needed key worker and student accommodation. The Bristol court complex will include 11 courtrooms, a probation service suite and office accommodation. Two further facilities will be constructed at Worle in North Somerset – a five-courtroom complex and a separate headquarters building for executive, support and training functions. Worle magistrates’ court and the headquarters building is due to open in late 2005. Bristol magistrates’ court is due to open in late 2006. The flexibility of the new courts will allow a combination of youth and adult courtrooms to be configured. John Cann, Director of Equion said: “Equion looks forward to delivering a new generation of flexible, high-tech and secure court and probation facilities in Avon and Somerset, working alongside support services specialist Amey. This is our first courts project and we will draw on our track record in the police, defence and other sectors to create first-class premises for the court and probation service, the local authorities involved and the public.” Mel Ewell, Amey’s Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that this prestigious, landmark contract has reached financial close. The project, to provide and maintain the infrastructure of the new courts and probation service in Avon and Somerset, forms an important part of a wider scheme that will see the broader community enjoy the benefits of economic regeneration. We now look forward to developing a successful working relationship with all our partners to provide Bristol and Worle with state-of-the-art services that will best serve the communities’ requirements in the years ahead.” Cathy Bakewell MBE, Leader of Somerset County Council, said: “My council has welcomed the opportunity to work in partnership with the two government departments and four local authorities involved. I believe the scheme is an excellent example of how the private sector can work effectively with the government and local government in enhancing an important local service.” -ends- For further information please contact: Equion Christine Jones, PR & Marketing Manager T: 020 7901 3290 Amey plc Emma Corcoran, Communications Manager T: 01628 818 462 or 07787 724751 Sofia Rehman, CardewChancery T: 020 7930 0777 Department for Constitutional Affairs Press Office T: 020 7210 8512 Notes to Editors: 1. Somerset County Council will be the signatory to the PFI contract on behalf of: - Bath and North-East Somerset Council - Bristol City Council - North Somerset Council - South Gloucestershire Council - Avon and Somerset Probation Service 2. Legal Advisers – Ashurst Financial Advisers - Investec Lenders - Barclays Plc Design Build Contractor - Mowlem Plc Lead designer - BDP Planning, Transportation and Environmental Consultants - White Young Green Support Services - Amey BPO Insurance - JLT Group Lenders Advisers to Equion - DLA, Willis, Ernst & Young, Mott McDonald. 3. Equion is a specialist provider of facilities in the PFI and PPP markets with a long-term perspective and approach. Equion offers a combination of skills and experience, from planning and funding through to design, construction and operation. It is actively involved in the management of a wide range of police, education, health, defence and special purpose government facilities including: - the Ministry of Defence Main Building refurbishment in Whitehall - 17 police stations and facilities in Greater Manchester - the Metropolitan Police Service Specialist Training Centre in Gravesend - Highlands Secondary School in Enfield - Newham and Enfield Combined Schools project - Glasgow and Edinburgh Schools project - South East Essex College at Southend - the new Norfolk & Norwich, and Queen Elizabeth (Greenwich) Hospitals - a radical restructuring of primary health care facilities in Manchester, Salford and Trafford 4. John Laing plc, is one of the UK’s leading corporate developers and investors in public infrastructure through the Private Finance Initiative with a proven record of delivering new investments on time and to budget. It holds a large and expanding portfolio of investments under three main divisions: Laing Roads, Laing Rail and Equion. The Group currently invests in a total of 38 projects spanning education, transport, health and special purpose government facilities, of which 22 are fully operational. It is currently preferred bidder on 15 PFI and PPP projects. The majority of the investments are within the UK though a number are in continental Europe. www.laing.com 5. Equion and its parent company John Laing plc won the Infrastructure Journal Developer of the Year Award in February 2004. www.equion.ltd.uk 6. Amey is a leading provider of integrated business support services to the public and private sector and is working closely with central and local government to develop major PFI/PPP projects, including education, health, transport and defence. Services range from managing large scale transportation infrastructure to delivering professional and back office services, all of which are underpinned by leading-edge technology and a true partnering philosophy. www.amey.co.uk