Appointment of South West hub preferred bidder

The South West Territory Programme Board in conjunction with the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) have appointed Alliance Community Partnerships, comprising of Equitix Holdings Ltd, Kier Project Investments Ltd, Galliford Try Investments Ltd and John Graham Holdings Ltd as the preferred bidder to deliver over £500m of public sector infrastructure projects for South West Scotland’s 18 hub participants*.

SFT is managing the Scotland-wide hub programme which is delivering high-quality sustainable public buildings for joint occupation by public bodies including, health, social work and local authorities to help support the delivery of community services.  The co-location of public services all under one roof will aid the on-going drive to improve services for local communities as well as deliver operational savings and improved property asset management.

The South West hub covers all areas throughout Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway and Lanarkshire and the infrastructure projects across this territory will be delivered through a joint venture company (hubCo), to be formed between the 18 public sector bodies and Alliance Community Partnerships. 

Work will now start in earnest to further develop a number of outline projects within the £500m investment programme which is to be delivered over the next ten years and includes a range of health, education and regeneration projects.  Local employment within the construction industry will be enhanced as the flexibility of the hub supply chain provides many opportunities for local SMEs to become involved in constructing high-quality public buildings in their local areas.

Barry White, chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, stated:  “The appointment of Alliance Community Partnerships represents a significant milestone in the delivery of hub as it marks the last preferred bidder to be chosen across the whole of the hub programme.

“The hub programme, valued at over £1.4bn over the next ten years, reflects an innovative approach to deliver efficient community facilities right across Scotland.  Central to its success is the establishment of collaborative working practices among private sector development partners together with health boards, local authorities and blue light services.

“Once formed, the South West hubCo will work with local suppliers and contractors to deliver quality buildings to provide improved public services for communities right across the South West hub territory.  Currently across Scotland, the hub programme is building or developing well in excess of £360m of essential projects which in turn will support service improvements to local communities, and importantly help protect construction jobs.”

Craig Marriott who chairs the South West hub Territory Programme Board explained:  “This is an excellent outcome and we are very much looking forward to working with Alliance Community Partnerships on some very important community projects over the coming years.  The South West hub provides an opportunity for integrated service delivery, asset management and regeneration as well as the delivery of community benefits.  In such times like these, there has never been a better time for collaborative working across public sector agencies, with hub acting as the catalyst.”

Nick Parker, Chief Operating Officer of Equitix representing Alliance Community Partnerships, commented that “The Alliance consortium is delighted to have been appointed as the South West Territory’s Preferred Partner.  We look forward to a successful partnership with all the Participants in focussing on delivering much needed projects for local communities and providing opportunities for local companies. This will maximise the benefits realised from this substantial investment across the region.”

*Named South West Scotland hub participants include:

Ayrshire and Arran Health Board              
Dumfries and Galloway Heath Board
Lanarkshire Health Board                                         
The State Hospitals Board for Scotland
Scottish Ambulance Service Board                            
National Services Scotland
East Ayrshire Council                                                 
North Ayrshire Council
South Ayrshire Council                                               
North Lanarkshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council                                         
Dumfries & Galloway Council
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue                                      
Dumfries & Galloway Fire & Rescue
Dumfries & Galloway Police                                      
Scottish Court Service            
Loreburn Housing Association                                   
Irvine Bay Regeneration Company