Major projects update

Mace looks set to pick up the £600m contract to build Birmingham New Street station, beating Laing O'Rourke and Balfour Beatty to the prize, reports Building magazine. The contractor will take an Olympic Delivery Authority-style role on the project, overseeing all aspects of construction. Foreign Office Architects will design the station's exterior and and an atrium, while BDP and Atkins will design the rest of the development.

A mix of British and American firms have made the shortlist to become delivery partner for London's £400m Crossrail project. Laing O'Rourke and Bechtel have put in separate bids, while joint bids came from: a venture between Parsons Brinckerhoff, Balfour Beatty and Davis Langdon; a JV between Flour, Arup and EC Harris; and a JV between Capita Symonds and NNN. The winner will be responsible for all sections of the rail link, which will feature twin-bored tunnels running from Paddington in the west to Stratford and Custom House in the east.

Plans to build Ian Simpson's Beetham tower in London's Blackfriars have been given a boost after the nearby Doon Street tower was approved by the communities secretary. A source close to the forthcoming planning inquiry into Beetham tower told Building magazine that its impact on views from St James' Park - a major planning concern - will be cancelled out by the 144m Doon Street building, which stands in the way.