Eleven contractors have won places on the framework claimed to be worth £3.9bn over four years.

The new arrangement consolidates several frameworks across the south of the country used for public works and has been broken down into three regions.

Six firms have earned places on all three panels including: Bam, Galliford Try, Kier, Morgan Sindall, Wates and Willmott Dixon.

Chair of the Southern Construction Framework Board, David Corcoran, said: “The authorities in our partnership have considerable experience in dedicated public sector construction frameworks, and the design of the SCF brings all our previous experience together into these new innovative regional arrangements.

“The new framework goes beyond its predecessors with a faster contractor selection process and other new features – including standard “off the shelf” primary and secondary school products already priced by the successful contractors in competition.”

The framework comes into force from 29 April.