Frontrunner for £850m scheme

摘要

Laing O'Rourke is the frontrunner to deliver an £850m Edinburgh regeneration project. The contractor has entered into an agreement with developer TH Real Estate over the St James mixed-use scheme, which could pave the way for it being named main contractor next year. Laing O'Rourke is already working on a consultancy basis on the project, which will include the construction of a 20,000 sq ft infill building to allow anchor tenant John Lewis to continue trading while work is carried out. TH Real Estate development director Martin Perry said his company has entered into a further agreement with the contractor to help outline the logistics and associated construction risks on the project. "Effectively, Laing O'Rourke is working under a pre-services construction agreement, so a consultancy agreement, with a small amount of construction," he said. Mr Perry said it was likely the firm would go on to become the main contractor on the mixed-use development, which will cover a total of 1.7m sq ft.