Bovis Lend Lease Ltd and Willmott Dixon Ltd have been selected to go through to the final stage of the tendering process. A preferred bidder is expected to be chosen by the end of July.

BSF will see major investment in all 16 borough secondary and secondary special schools, with extensive remodelling and new build. It is the largest single programme in the borough’s secondary schools for a generation and will include £22m of ICT investment.

The two companies will enter into further dialogue with the council and will be asked to submit their final bids in the summer. They will produce detailed plans for investment in the two ‘sample’ schools, Southfields Community College and Burntwood School, and ICT investment across all the schools.  

The sample schools will be the first to be transformed under the programme, and outline planning permission for both has already been granted. Work will start in spring 2011.

A new Catholic secondary school, Saint John Bosco, will also be built as part of the project and Elliot School in Putney will be completely remodelled.

Council leader Edward Lister said:
“We’re delighted to announce our final shortlist of two for this exciting project. BSF will completely transform the borough’s secondary schools and will help us provide the best possible education to all the borough’s children.”