Support services group Interserve has been selected for a 拢28m mental health scheme in south-east London, as part of the Procure 21 hospital building programme
Interserve's consortium, which includes architect HLM, is understood to have beaten off challenges from Laing and ACM Solutions, a joint venture between Amec, Mowlem and Costain.

The three shortlisted teams were interviewed by the Bethlem and Maudsley NHS Trust on Friday. The Interserve team was told informally that it had won shortly afterwards. Written confirmation is expected to be given this week.

Andrew Jowett, Interserve's national operational manager, declined to comment, but a source close to the project said: "The process from expressions of interest to interview took four or five weeks. The contract involves two medium-secure mental health schemes. One is worth 拢20m, the other about 拢8m."

Procure 21 is a framework deal between 12 mainly contractor-led consortiums and NHS Estates. It is worth 拢7bn over five years, and covers all non-PFI capital projects with a cost of more than 拢1m.

Of the 12 consortiums on the framework deal, 11 are believed to have pitched for the Bethlem and Maudsley scheme before the Trust whittled them down to the shortlist, which was announced in September last year.

The contract involves two mental health schemes. One is worth 拢20m, the other about 拢8m

A source close to the project

Other contractors on the framework include Balfour Beatty, Carillion, HBG, Kier, Taylor Woodrow and Wates. Skanska, Galliford Try and Willmott Dixon were among those that failed to make the list.

The framework announcement fulfilled a commitment NHS Estates made in the Sold on Health document in May 2000, which said it would look to roll-out a national partnering scheme.