Decision on £1bn London towers job winner pushed later into autumn

The decision on the winner of one of the largest jobs due to be built In London is not expected to be made until later this autumn.

US firm Hines had been hoping to appoint a winner for the main contract this summer but Building understands this now won’t be made until the beginning of next month at the earliest.

A winner for the £100m enabling and basement package, which is being tendered by Careys and Keltbray, had been due in the spring but this has also still not been awarded.

The main contract is being bid by Multiplex and a pairing of Bovis and McLaren with this part of the work, consisting of one office tower and two residential towers, worth a combined £900m.

Building understands the delays are to do with design changes in the light of the Building Safety Act with the award of the enabling package held up until the above ground design is sorted.

Earlier this year, the developer proposed several amendments to the consented scheme, which was given planning last autumn.

Planning firm DP9 told planning authority Southwark council that these included “adjustments to the market housing tenure mix to better meet market demand, improvements to carbon efficiency and enhancements to detailed design to provide a more deliverable scheme”.

The development includes a £600m office tower, more than 400 residential units as well as retail, cafes and restaurants.

Now called the Round, 18 Blackfriars involves building a 47-storey office tower, designed by Foster & Partners, as well as two residential towers, of 45 and 25 storeys, also designed by the practice.

The job, which is being funded by the National Pension Service of Korea, will be Hines’ biggest in the capital with Hines hoping for completion in 2030.

Hines has been contacted for comment.