It saw off three other bidders, but all four came in below estimate, enabling overall construction costs to be reduced from £32.98m to £29.56m.
But the total bill, including interest repayments on a loan to cover the expenditure, will eventually top £60m, drawing some criticism in the area. City councillor Colin Inglis told the Scunthorpe Telegraph: "The ongoing revenue cost of the borrowing to finance the new police station is the reason I oppose it being built at this time.” City council C C
Humberside Police Authority vice chairman Steve Beasant defended the timing of the project: “‘Due to the current financial climate, it is an ideal time to go out to tender for such a project, as the construction industry is competing for fewer contracts. As a result all of the four tenders came in at less than the estimated cost for the construction resulting in the overall cost of the project lowering by almost £3.5m.”
BAM’s tender also came out on top in terms of quality, which included a commitment to local people and the local economy. Using the YorBuild framework, bids were assessed on potential contractor’s intentions to encourage young people from the local community to have a greater understanding of the construction industry as a future area of employment, in addition to providing skills and opportunities for those seeking work, and starting or continuing apprenticeships.
John Phillips, construction director for BAM in the northeast, said: “We’re pleased to be building in Hull, where we have a strong track record, and for an important client. We recognise the social importance to the local community of delivering these new facilities, and we will form a strong partnership with the Police Authority and Humberside Police. For BAM, construction is more than materials – it is about how we build, not just what we build. We look forward to contributing to the community with this project and making a fast start.”
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