Scheme in West End now suspended

Another Laing O’Rourke site in London has been forced to stop with work on a mixed-use scheme above Tottenham Court Road station now suspended.

The £195m Soho Place scheme (pictured) is being built for Derwent and includes office and retail space along with a 600-seat theatre. Architect on the project is AHMM.

Soho place derwent london (2)

Derwent said the site was shut at the start of the week – a decision it said was led by the contractor.

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A Laing O’Rourke spokesperson said the government had made it clear that the construction sector should continue working and follow Public Health England’s social distancing guidance.

But she added: “We are reviewing any further actions we can take on our sites and, where it is appropriate, we are scaling back activity and, in some instances, suspending work.”

Other O’Rourke schemes to have shut in the capital include its Crossrail jobs at Liverpool Street and Custom House as well as its work on the Thames Tideway super sewer and the Northern Line Extension from Kennington to Battersea – both of which it is carrying out in a joint venture with Spanish contractor Ferrovial.

On Monday, O’Rourke said around 90 of its most senior staff were taking a 30% pay cut with immediate effect.