Bolton contractor Forrest secures place on £1.5bn public sector framework

Contractor Forrest has landed a place on a billion-pound framework that will see upgrades and improvements delivered across public sector organisations’ property estates.

Bolton-based Forrest has been tasked with installing low-carbon technologies such as solar panels, double glazing, insulation, LED lighting and new and upgraded boilers in buildings such as hospitals and schools.

Forming part of the public buildings energy efficiency retrofit programme RE:FIT, the framework will aim to deliver up to £1.5bn in improvement works.

The framework is jointly run by the Greater London Authority and Local Partnerships, a non-profit joint venture between HM Treasury and the Local Government Association.

To date, the RE:FIT programme has reached 870 public sector buildings, delivering works that are expected to save around 52k tonnes of carbon dioxide each year and enable organisations to slash their energy bills by up to £9.8m per annum.

Forrest’s energy director, Paul McCarren, said: “Many public sector organisations are facing pressures to reduce their operating costs alongside tackling their carbon emissions.

“The RE:FIT framework is the perfect way to give these bodies more streamlined access to the best energy efficiency technologies on the market.”

He added: “We’re looking forward to delivering vital retrofit upgrades and seeing the resulting cost benefits reinvested where they are needed most.”