Applications by companies who want to take part in a £60 million project to build modern healthcare centres in Bradford, have been whittled down to a shortlist of three.

Now the contenders for the final contract will have to demonstrate their expertise by drawing up plans for three surgeries for assessment by the Lift Project board.

The Lift Project - which stands for Local Improvement Finance Trust - will take 25 years to complete and will see new premises replacing ageing and overcrowded GP surgeries across Bradford and Airedale.

The project will be a public/private partnership, set up as a limited company. Shareholders will include the local NHS and the Department of Health as well as the private sector.

Phase one will see 24 GP practices move into new accommodation with room for at least 13 more GPs, premises for minor surgery and accommodation for the teaching and training of the doctors of tomorrow.

When the scheme was announced, project director Andrew Gunnee said: "We know that patients are unhappy with many of the current facilities. They are looking for services which are conveniently located, in buildings which are safe and easy to access."

A total of nine companies submitted bids to play a part in the project and three have been chosen to put together designs for three health centres in Bradford and Airedale.

The companies are Community Solutions for Primary Care (CSPC), which was involved in developing Bradford Royal Infirmary's A&E department; Bradford and Northern Housing Group (B&N), a not-for-profit company which was involved in a private finance initiative for Leeds Mental Health Services NHS Trust; and Jarvis Primary health Ltd (JPH), which has developed 80 primary medical centres throughout the UK.

They have been asked to produce designs for a GP practice in Haworth for Airedale Primary Care Trust, a primary care centre in Low Moor for Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust, and a locality hub - a major healthcare centre - in Manningham, for Bradford City Primary Care Trust.

The firms have until June 12 to submit their bids and the preferred option will be announced on September 11.

The Lift company will be established by December 10 to enable work to begin on phase one by January 2004.