Balfour Beatty, Lovell Partnership, and Morgan Sindall among contenders for sheltered housing programme

Stoke-on-Trent council has named four bidders shortlisted for a £108m PFI contract to deliver new sheltered housing for the elderly in the city.

The authority said Balfour Beatty, ExtraCare Solutions 4 Stoke-on-Trent, the Sapphire consortium, and the New Day Villages Consortium had all been invited to develop plans for the project, based on the strength of pre-qualification questionnaires.

Some 390 new housing units are proposed, split over three sites in the city, with the start of construction expected next year.

In addition to living spaces where residents can have as much or as little support as they need, the homes will also have facilities such as hair salons, gyms and cafes.

Councillor Ruth Rosenau, Stoke’s cabinet member for regeneration, said the authority had looked at bidders’ past experience of similar projects and track record of working with the public sector as part of the initial selection process.

“The quality of submissions we received was very high, and I’m delighted that we now have four bidders with significant experience in the development and delivery of large projects,” she said.

The Sapphire consortium is made up of Harvest Housing Group and the Eric Wright Group.

The New Day Villages consortium, meanwhile, comprises Staffordshire Housing, Lovell Partnership and Morgan Sindall Investments.

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