A Kier consortium has been selected by Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Fire Authority as preferred bidder in a £50m PFI contract to build and maintain 11 new community fire stations across the county.

As part of the deal, Kier will provide facilities management and community support services over a 25-year period worth more than £17m.

The blue3 consortium involved Kier and architects Calderpeel Partnership Limited. Construction work is expected to start in early 2013 and all fire stations are expected to be complete by the end of 2015.

Kier business development director, Tony Devenish, said: “This has been a necessarily long and involved process taking almost two years and everyone at Kier is delighted that we have been selected as preferred bidder. We were selected as a result of the business’ strong track record in delivering similar projects and our ability to provide an overall solution that would give a continuity of service over the next 25 years.

“This is the second successful PFI bid in two months for Kier, representing significant contracts for the business.”

The contract will cover fire stations in Burton upon Trent, Longton, Lichfield, Leek, Rugeley, Stone, Chase Terrace, Loggerheads, Penkridge, Codsall and Kinver.