Contract signed for first school PPP

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The first schools to be run on a public-private-partnership model have been signed off.

Associate Minister of Education Craig Foss announced today that a contract had been signed today with Learning Infrastructure Partners.

Learning Infrastructure Partners will be responsible for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of Hobsonville Point primary and secondary schools for the next 25 years.

Hobsonville Point Primary School will open at the beginning of 2013 and Hobsonville Point Secondary School will open in early 2014.

Mr Foss said maintaining school property would be the responsibility of the private partner, leaving the school board and teaching staff more time to focus on student learning and achievement.

Under the PPP, the Crown would no longer be exposed to design and construction risks. They would be the responsibility of the private partner who must fix them promptly or face financial penalties, said Mr Foss.

Learning Infrastructure Partners is a consortium of firms with experience in designing, building and maintaining New Zealand schools.

The design work has been carried out by ASC Architects and Perumal Pedavoli Architects, the schools will be built by Hawkins Construction and maintained by Programmed Facility Management.