Six contractors shortlisted for The Forum
Published Thursday 20th October 11 in Council - news and information releases news
The three partners working together to deliver The Forum - Southend’s brand new library and learning facility – will soon begin the process of selecting a contractor to build it.
The £27m scheme is a joint enterprise between Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, the University of Essex and South Essex College.
Six firms have recently been shortlisted for interview from the original list of applicants which tendered for the prestigious project.
They are Wilmott Dixon Construction Limited, VolkerFitzpatrick Limited, Wates Construction Limited, VINCI Construction UK Limited, BAM Construction Limited and Kier Eastern.
And the local economy will benefit whichever firm is successful in landing the crucial task of delivering the exciting scheme, one of the first of its kind in the country.
The partners will press them to secure as much of the labour and materials required for the mammoth building project as possible from the south east Essex area.
The four-storey Forum, due to be completed in August 2013, was given the green light by planners in August and will be built on the site of the former Farringdon Car Park.
It will provide a new public and academic library to replace the existing Central Library, a new teaching facility for the College and new research and learning facilities for the University.
The Forum will also deliver a new home for the Focal Point Gallery, as well as a new café and lecture theatre.
The Council is providing £12.5m towards the cost of the project, with the University contributing £10.4m and the College £4m.
Architects ADP have drawn up detailed plans for the new building and the Council will announce which of the six shortlisted firms has been successful in January 2012.
Executive Councillor for Culture and Tourism, Derek Jarvis, said: "All six shortlisted firms have proven track records in delivering major infrastructure projects of this magnitude.
"The calibre of the companies which have tendered for this scheme is a clear indication of just how prestigious an undertaking this is seen as in the construction industry.
"Whichever firm is ultimately selected will be encouraged to source as much manpower and materials as possible from Southend and its environs. It is important that we make sure that the local economy benefits to as great an extent as possible from this project."