Laing has preferred bidder status

The infrastructure group is to build a new facility at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, costing �350m.

Together with support services partner Sodexho, the project will also see it create a new community facility for the North Stoke Primary Care Trust.

Laing is also part of the consortium to refurbish St Bartholomew's and the Royal London hospitals in the capital.

This �1bn project will run for 38 years and is the UK's largest private finance initiative (PFI) scheme to date.

The North Staffordshire project, costing �350m, is also PFI.

Laing chief executive Andy Friend said: "This success comes at the end of a year in which we have made very significant progress in the healthcare sector."