Oldham Council has picked Balfour Beatty as preferred bidder to design and build schools under its £230m Building Schools for the Future programme.

The council’s cabinet chose Balfour Beatty Education over rival bidder Equity Solutions on Friday.

The decision comes while there are question marks over whether the government’s £55bn Building Schools for the Future programme will continue in its present form following tomorrow’s Emergency Budget announcement.

Councillor Jack Hulme, Oldham cabinet member for children and families, said: “The BSF programme is currently under review as the new Government examines its spending priorities.

“Pending any decision on that we are simply continuing to proceed responsibly as a local authority with our plans to ensure that our BSF programme is in an advanced position to potentially secure funding.”

This week a public consultation will go ahead over Balfour Beatty’s proposed designs for North Chadderton school and the  new Roman Catholic school. It is anticipated that planning applications will be submitted in July.

Balfour Beatty is expected to start construction work on the two sites in January 2011.

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