This follows months of negotiations after inspiredspaces was unveiled as the Council's Private Sector Partner for the LEP in January 2008. The inspiredspaces consortium includes Carillion as a construction partner and Ramesys as the ICT managed service provider.

Carillion chief executive, John McDonough, said: “We are delighted to have achieved financial close on our second project under the BSF programme, which is a strong growth area for the Group. We have built an excellent partnership with Nottingham City Council and now look forward to helping it deliver its education vision of sustainability and state-of-the-art community focused schools.”

The LEP will build eight schools in Wave 2 of the Government's BSF programme. The first phase of Wave 2 includes: a new secondary school in the north of the city for Big Wood in Top Valley the remodelling and complete refurbishment of Hadden Park High School in Bilborough a new special school (Centre of Excellence) on the integrated Harvey Hadden Campus to replace Aspley Wood and Shepherd Schools.

Building work is on track to start this summer with opening planned for Autumn 2009. Work should be fully completed in 2010. The remaining five schools in Wave 2 are due to be complete  by 2010/11.