Lendlease wins £1.5bn luxury resi scheme

Lendlease has won the £1.5bn redevelopment of the former army barracks in St John’s Wood in north London, Building can reveal.

The Australian-owned contractor has beaten off competition from rival bidder Sir Robert McAlpine, having already pipped the firm to the role to build Google’s new £650m UK headquarters at the beginning of the year.

A spokesperson for Craigewan told Building: “On behalf of its client, St. John’s Wood Square Limited, Craigewan can confirm the appointment of Lendlease to provide advice during the detailed design phase of the development prior to the appointment of a main contractor.”

Lendlease is also understood to have been appointed earlier this year to build the £500m 42-storey hotel and apartment skyscraper at 150 Bishopsgate for Singaporean investor UOL Group.

Meanwhile, Sir Robert McAlpine has been confirmed as the construction manager on the first part of the third phase at the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station.

St John’s Wood Barracks was formerly the headquarters of the Royal Horse Artillery, whose responsibilities include firing royal salutes in central London. The troop moved in 2012 to its current home in Woolwich, ending more than 200 years of military connections with the area.

Malaysian businessman Ananda Krinshnan’s Usaha Tegas Group acquired the St John’s Woods barracks for £250m winning planning approval in April 2015 from Westminster council to turn the 2.2 hectare site into luxury housing designed by architects Squire & Partners.

The site’s grade II listed riding school is to be turned into a spa, swimming pool and gym designed by Wilkinson Eyre.

In December last year amended plans were submitted to the council to increase the number of new apartments and houses by eight to 171, while the number of villas was reduced. The scheme, which has an estimated development value of £1.5bn according to Barbour ABI, will also include retail along with 100 affordable homes of which 59 are on the site.

The St John’s Wood Square project team, whose neighbours include Lord’s cricket ground, includes project manager Arcadis, engineer WSP and development manager Craigewan.

Lendlease have been contacted for comment.