Three private building companies will go head-to-head in a competition to win work for Wandsworth’s £300m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

BSF will see major investment in all 16 borough secondary schools, with extensive remodelling and new build.

Bovis Lendlease Ltd, Galliford Try Construction Ltd and Willmott Dixon Ltd have been selected to go through to the next stage of the bidding process.

They will enter a “competitive dialogue’ with the council and borough schools to talk about how the work would be carried out.

Two of the shortlisted bidders will progress to the next phase of tendering in February 2010, producing plans for investment.

Two sample school, Burntwood School and Southfields Community College, will be the first to be transformed under the programme, and outline planning permission for both has already been granted.

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.

The selected partner is expected to be confirmed in September 2010.

Council leader Edward Lister said: “We’re delighted to be working with these three companies on the next stage of this exciting project.

“We have a clear vision and ambitious plans for our schools, and are determined to provide the best possible education for all our young people.”

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