Scheme at 2 Finsbury Avenue being developed by British Land

Sir Robert McAlpine is understood to be negotiating the deal to build British Land’s recently approved tower in the City of London – dashing the hopes of rival tower builders who had been running the rule over the job.

The developer was given the green light by City planners last month for its 38-storey scheme at 2 Finsbury Avenue at the Broadgate development.

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The twin-tower scheme has been designed by Danish architect 3XN

McAlpine, which reached practical completion on British Land’s 100 Liverpool Street development at Broadgate in January, had been expected to be lined up for the scheme but other firms took a look at the job while last year its head of development Nigel Webb told Building it was “too early to say” what its building plans were for the scheme.

But one rival said: “Finsbury Square is a McAlpine job. We’ve been told not to waste our time on that one.”

Designed by 3XN, 2 Finsbury Avenue is the Danish architect’s first project in London and others working on the job include executive architect Adamson, the firm which worked on the Shard, structural engineer Ramboll, QS Core 5 and project manager Gardiner & Theobald.

As well as the taller East tower, the scheme will feature a smaller, 20-storey West tower with the pair linked by a 13-storey podium that will contain green spaces and communal areas.

British Land and McAlpine declined to comment.