Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure Group, announces today that it has been appointed as preferred bidder for the £250 million PPP street lighting contract by Coventry City Council.

The 25-year concession will involve the design, installation and maintenance of 33,000 street lights and 6,000 signs and bollards, during the five-year capital investment period, and the ongoing maintenance of all existing and new equipment.

Balfour Beatty will invest equity of approximately £6.3 million into the concession.

Commenting on the contract award today, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said:

"We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder for this contract. We look forward to working in partnership with Coventry City Council to transform the city's street lighting. We will develop infrastructure within the area to enable us to deliver the contract and will create local employment opportunities."

The contract will deliver a number of technical innovations which will result in a 38% energy reduction across Coventry City Council's stock, including a centrally-controlled dimming system to allow light levels to be reduced when streets are quiet.

Other features of the contract will include:

- Lanterns with a 'white light' source, improving light efficiency and face recognition;
- LEDs where access for maintenance is restricted and to enhance areas of the City Centre;
- The de-illumination of bollards or their replacement by solar-powered units, resulting in zero energy consumption for all bollard types;
- The de-illumination of signs or their replacement by low wattage LEDs.

This is Balfour Beatty's fourth PPP street lighting concession, with existing projects in Sunderland, South Tyneside and Derby proceeding successfully.

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