The firms that will compete to secure a lucrative contract to revamp south-west London's mental health services have been revealed.

It was 18 months ago that South West London and St George's mental health trust (SWLSTG) announced it would spend £160m on re-developing Tolworth and Springfield hospitals to modernise facilities that are up to 150 years old.

It will mean the closure of wards at Queen Mary's Hospital as inpatient services are centralised.

The plans, to be funded by the sale of NHS land, have been agreed by NHS England and health bosses in Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.

Read more: NHS agrees mental health ward closures and £160m investment from land sales

A long list of six 'development partners' has been announced:

  • Lendlease Europe Holdings Ltd
  • Macquarie Corporate Holdings Pty Ltd and Kier Construction Ltd
  • Notting Hill Housing Trust and MACE Ltd
  • Skanska Construction Ltd and Barratt Developments PLC
  • STEP (Kajima Partnerships and Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Ltd)
  • Vinci PLC, Telereal Trillium and One Housing Group

The six will be whittled down to one by July next year, SWLSTG said.

A spokesman said: "The programme will deliver two new hospitals, develop extensive community services and provide new homes and parkland for the local community."