Wates appointed to £8bn ESFA school construction framework
Following on from success in delivering schools through the ESFAs Priority School Building Programme and Free School programme, Wates strategically targeted two lots across the framework, and Wates has been selected as a partner for both the north and south on the high-value bands (projects over £12m).
The framework, which provides the ESFA, local authorities, education trusts and other public bodies with a procurement route to access pre-selected contractors and will operate for up to four years from 27 November 2017. The previous frameworks saw Wates collaborate on 56 schools across the country, including the first school funded by the more recent framework, Whitmore Park and the exemplar Campsmount Technology College.
Stephen Beechey, Managing Director of Government Affairs, Wates Group, commented:
“Our strong relationship with the ESFA continues to deliver exceptional new educational buildings across the country, and has seen us develop our own component-based design solution, Adapt, that harnesses the benefits of standardisation to deliver optimum value. Were delighted to be continuing our partnership to deliver the next wave of future education facilities.
Being awarded a place on the high value lots is testament to the scale of projects we deliver across the group, and our expertise in constructing quality, well-designed buildings for a variety of education needs.”
Wates have been an ESFA framework partner for 8 years in which time they have delivered £400m of schools with a further £350m on site or in preconstruction benefitting over 50,000 pupils.
