Bevan Brittan LLP has acted for the London Borough of Greenwich to close phase one of its £290 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project.  Close was reached on 22 November 2006 and closely follows the firm’s successful closure of the Bristol BSF Schools project in July of this year.  This is the second of four pathfinder schemes to have reached close under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

The Greenwich BSF project, “Transformation Through Partnership” is delivered in two phases, the first being close of the partnering arrangements with the second phase being delivery of the first of three waves of schools over a ten year period.  Transformation Through Partnership is unique through its adoption of a non standardised procurement model, a key feature of which is the replacement of the Local Education Partnership (“LEP”) in favour of an independent Strategic Partnering Organisation (“SPO”) whose role is, amongst other things, to establish each project in the second phase through the competitive procurement of supply chains.  The Transformation Through Partnership model does however, remain largely based on the standard form BSF model and contracts.

The first wave of the second phase of the project will deliver three new build schools; Thomas Tallis, John Roan, and Crown Woods together with two substantially refurbished schools; Eltham Hill and Plumstead Manor located in the Greenwich borough.  Work on the first wave is anticipated to start in mid 2007 with competitive procurement of supply chains for the second wave to begin shortly thereafter.

VT Education and Skills Ltd, a subsidiary of Vosper Thornycroft plc, was chosen in April of this year as Greenwich’s preferred bidder for the role of the SPO and will be responsible for delivery of the three waves of schools as part of the scheme’s second phase development of the Council’s schools estate over the next ten years.

Simon Moore, who led the Bevan Brittan team, which included Rob Pfitzner and Justin Purcell, said:  “Closure of this phase of the Transformation Through Partnership BSF scheme for the London Borough of Greenwich is a further significant step in the Building Schools for the Future programme and builds on our experience and success in delivering the first BSF project for Bristol City Council.  We are delighted to have been involved in successfully closing this scheme for Greenwich using a non-standard procurement model and assisting to establish a long term partnership between the Council and VT.  We see the partnership as a major opportunity to deliver genuine education transformation within the borough.”   

The £30 billion BSF national programme is a new approach to capital investment in school buildings.  It aims to help modernise all secondary schools across the country to provide 21^st century facilities over a 10– 15 year period.

Bevan Brittan is currently advising on 11 other BSF projects across the country.