Decision on new Staffordshire fire stations

Fire bosses have announced their preferred bidder for a £50 million project for the rebuilding of 11 fire stations across Staffordshire.

The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) with Blue3 – a consortium led by national construction group Kier – will see fire stations in Rugeley, Stone, Penkridge, Chase Terrace, Codsall and Lichfield rebuilt to a state-of-the-art standard.

It follows on from a previous PFI which saw the rebuild of seven stations and the building of three additional stations.

All of these three stations are now operational.

The choosing of Blue3 followed what fire chiefs called "rigorous" procurement process.

Peter Dartford, chief fire officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, said: "This is a major milestone in the project and is very significant as it takes us another step closer to a further 11 community fire stations.

"Five organisations qualified to take part in the procurement process, and this was reduced to just two bidders in July last year. Final tenders were received earlier this year and staff from all levels of the service have been involved in the evaluation.

"It was a close contest with both companies, Blue3 and Vinci, producing excellent submissions. We now look forward to progressing the project with blue3."

Councillor Len Bloomer, chairman of the Fire and Rescue Authority, said: "Our first community fire stations project has exceeded our expectations and we're confident this second project will be equally successful. Like the buildings in our first project these stations will have state-of-the-art operational facilities and dedicated community areas"

The Blue3 consortium has also been selected as the PFI partner for the rebuilding of nine fire stations for London Fire Brigade.

The next steps in the project will involve finalising the design of all 11 buildings and producing a building schedule. Full planning applications will be submitted with a final contract to be signed in spring next year. This will shortly be followed by construction.

By Richard Woodall