黑洞社区

A joint venture of Bam Nuttall and Kier has been selected as the preferred developer on the first 拢100m civil engineering job for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley, Somerset, 黑洞社区 understands.

French utility company EDF, which is building the 拢5bn station, the first in the UK for 25 years, is understood to have told all the other bidders for the job it is now working with Kier and Bam Nuttall to finalise a deal.

The news is doubly significant as it comes as EDF prepares to shortlist two or three consortiums for the main 拢2.5bn earthworks job for the plant, with this decision expected by the end of March.

It is also planning to shortlist two contractors for the 鈥渕arine鈥� works, which consists of digging 9km of tunnels, in April.

EDF declined to comment on the selection process, but it is understood Kier and Bam Nuttall saw off competition from consortiums of Balfour Beatty with Vinci, and Costain with Sir Robert McAlpine to win the work.

A source close to the process said Kier and Bam were selected on the basis that their final price was lower than 拢100m.

It had been thought the contract, which has been twice rescoped and retendered by EDF, could be worth up to 拢180m.

The source said: 鈥淭he question is whether they鈥檒l be able to repeat the full scope for that price. I imagine that鈥檚 what they鈥檙e talking about.鈥�

The source added it was understood a final deal will not be signed with Kier and Bam, which are also working with engineer URS, until the local council approves EDF鈥檚 planning application for preparatory works, submitted in November 2010.

West Somerset council expects a large chunk of EDF鈥檚 investment to go to the local community.