A number of the UK’s biggest construction firms are understood to be in the running for a £150 million contract to build a new hospital in Cambridgeshire.
At least six consortia and companies are believed to have submitted pre-qualification questionnaires for the contract, which will see the rebuilding of the Papworth Hospital at Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
The interested parties include a Laing O’Rourke led consortium, Balfour Beatty, Brookfield and Sir Robert McAlpine.
A shortlist is expected to be announced in November.
It follows an information event for potential private-sector bidders held earlier this month attracting more than 120 delegates.
Papworth Hospital’s chief executive Stephen Bridge said: “I am delighted with the response we have had from potential bidders.
“The strong turnout at our bidder event confirms that the New Papworth project is a highly attractive project, and this has now resulted in six formal requests to be considered for the next stage of the project.”