Irish construction firm Laing O'Rourke moved closer to securing a lucrative £355m (€405m) contract in the UK following the elimination of one of its competitors.


The company is now competing against BAM PP and Robert McAlpine for the Coventry Buildings Schools for the Future programme after Bouygues and Wates was eliminated.


The shortlist will be further whittled down early next year with a preferred bidder set to be announced by summer.


The project includes nine new builds and 11 refurbishments. The first is set to be completed by 2012.