Contractor appointed to first phase of Ram Brewery scheme

Chinese client Greenland Group has selected Ardmore for the main works on the £170m first phase of its Ram Brewery project in south London, after Greenland and Kier were unable to agree terms.

Kier had been appointed preffered bidder on the £170m first phase of Greenland’s Ram Brewery project in Wandsworth last April, but confirmed this morning (10 February) it would not be building the main works.

Over the past year Greenland and Kier have been working on enabling works for the first phase, but they were unable to agree terms for the ongoing work. The two firms said they “reached this decision jointly and remain on positive trading terms”.

Kier will hand the site to Ardmore in April. Greenland said Ardmore has “already mobilised a team to continue procurement and ensure a smooth transition on site” and that phase one remains on schedule to complete in 2017.

The first phase of the Ram Brewery project comprises 338 of a total 663 planned new homes on the site of the former Youngs brewery in south London.

The phase comprises 411,000 sq ft of housing and retail space across nine blocks of between four and 10 storeys, as well as the refurbishment and remodelling of the brewery complex.

The Ram Quarter will be delivered in three phases, with a total value of around £600m.

The news comes after developer Sellar confirmed Ardmore for an £80m contract to deliver the first phase of its major mixed-use development at Canada Water. Building revealed in December that Ardmore had won the job.

Commenting on the Ram Quarter win, Cormac Byrne, Ardmore managing director, said: “We have a supply chain that is ready to go with the capacity and capability to deliver the exemplary quality demanded by Greenland.”

Wenhao Qian, Greenland Group’s UK managing director, said: “We have been impressed by Ardmore’s hands-on approach to delivery, and are delighted to welcome them to join the experienced and respected team we have assembled to bring forward The Ram Quarter, the Greenland Group’s first project in the UK.”