Three contractors are bidding to oversee a £750m mixed-use scheme in the centre of Liverpool, which is scheduled to open before the city becomes the European capital of culture in 2008
Bovis Lend Lease, Laing O'Rourke and Sir Robert McAlpine are on the shortlist to become construction advisers to the scheme's developer, a joint venture between developer Grosvenor and Liverpool council.

The firm that is picked as adviser is expected to become the main contractor.

The construction element of the work, which will take on a 17 ha site called Paradise Street, is expected to be worth about £400m. The scheme has been masterplanned by Building Design Partnership.

The scheme is presently the subject of a public inquiry, which started at the beginning of this month. The inquiry, due to finish mid-October, will hear from about 30 objectors, including local businesses.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott is due to make a decision on whether to go ahead with the project early next year.

The firm picked as adviser is expected to become the main contractor

The scheme will include 148,000 m2 of shopping, 21500 m2 of leisure space and 364 houses and flats.

It was originally due for completion in 2007.

  • Carillion has been picked by housebuilder Countryside to offer pre-construction advice on a £150m mixed-use project for Anglia Polytechnic University in Chelmsford town centre.