Australian property group Lend Lease was late last night (Sydney-time) short listed for the £4 billion Stratford City project in London, which includes the 2012 Olympic Athletes Village.
The short listed consortiums include Bouygues, leading a consortium including Barratt Homes; Lend Lease, leading a consortium including East Thames Group, First Base and Crosby Homes; and Royal Bank of Scotland, leading a consortium including Bellway Homes, Gladedale and Kier.
A final decision by London & Continental Railways and the Olympic Delivery Authority on the successful consortium is expected within the next few months with work due to begin next year.
The £4 billion Stratford City development, in east London is the largest retail-led, mixed use urban regeneration project ever undertaken in the UK. The development includes delivery of the Athletes’ Village for 2012 Games.
The retail-led development to the south of Stratford International is being developed by another Australian company Westfield Group
LCR managing director Stephen Jordan said the shortlist was drawn up following strong bidding through the OJEU process for delivery of the entire Stratford City scheme outside of Zone 1.
Apart from the Olympic Athletes Village, the development will also include the bulk of the scheme’s legacy housing, commercial and hotel development.
“The creation of such a competitive shortlist demonstrates the high quality of the companies that responded,” Jordan added.
“Cutting down from the long list was tough. However, after a thorough evaluation process, we believe that we have short listed three very credible candidates all of which bring a wealth of experience and resource to deliver this vital regeneration project and its important Olympic phases.”
ODA chief executive David Higgins said the announcement of a shortlist of such capable candidates is good news for east London and for the 2012 Olympics.
“We are working together with our partners at LCR and with SCDL to ensure we remain on schedule to deliver these vital Olympics facilities. Stratford City will be a power for positive change, bringing improved job opportunities, homes and making the most of the greatly improved transport links now under construction.”
Jones Lang LaSalle is managing the OJEU process for LCR and the ODA. JLL is also working very closely with the now wholly-owned Stratford City Developments Limited.
Meanwhile, a Bovis Lend Lease led consortium has been short listed in June this year, for the infrastructure construction of the 2012 London Olympics.
By Nelson Yap and Adam Parsons
