The Bentilee Hub project will deliver a major local Joint Services centre to a large housing estate in inner-city Stoke. The centre will include a primary health care centre, walk-in centre, library, housing area office, community centre, Citizens Advice Bureau, and nine shops.

Construction will be carried out by J & S Seddons with the new centre due to open in early 2007.  Pinnacle will provide maintenance and facilities management services, including cleaning, security, and grounds and building maintenance, for the duration of the 25 year contract.

Andrew Charlesworth, general manager of Regenter, said today: “We will draw on our combined experience of local service and infrastructure development and the related management and support services to deliver this exciting major scheme for Bentilee.  We are making a long-term commitment to the regeneration for the community and a key part of our strategy going forward will be to develop further opportunities to invest in the surrounding neighbourhoods.”

Perry Lloyd, director of UK PIM, said: “Regenter brings financial expertise to the Bentilee project and, just as importantly, our associate company Pinnacle Housing brings a wide range of experience in building better communities throughout Britain. Together, we will make Bentilee a better place to live.”

The Bentilee Hub project is one of six joint service schemes sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to be procured via PFI.

ENDS

For more information:   Anne Sampson/Matthew Moth
                                        The madano partnership 
                                        020 7593 4000
                                        
                                        Christine Jones
                                        John Laing plc
                                        020 7901 3290

Notes to Editors

• Regenter was set-up in April 2004 to invest in and manage social housing and wider regeneration partnerships between the public and private sectors. It has also been selected as Preferred Bidder on a social housing scheme for Canning Town in the London Borough of Newham. www.regenter.com
• Equion is a specialist provider of facilities in the PFI and PPP markets with a long-term perspective and approach from planning and funding through to design, construction and operation. It is actively involved in the management of a wide range of police, education, health, defence and special purpose government facilities.  www.equion.ltd.uk
• UK Pacific Investment Management (UK PIM) is an investment company formed by the majority shareholders of Pinnacle Regeneration Group to invest in social housing and key worker opportunities arising from Pinnacle’s strong ties in this sector.
• Pinnacle is the UK’s leading provider of neighbourhood management and related services to Local Authorities and Housing Associations.  www.pinnacle-psg.com
• The financial advisers to Regenter are ABROS and the legal advisers are Anthony Collins Solicitors.
• J & S Seddons will lead construction. Lead architects are Hulme Upright.
• Funding will be provided by Nationwide.