The shortlist to redevelop the former home of the London Stock Exchange is understood to have been whittled down to Bovis Lend Lease and Sir Robert McAlpine.

According to market sources, Laing O’Rourke was a potential contender for the £75m project, which is in the heart of the City. However, the shortlist has now been scaled down to two.

A source close to the scheme said: “A decision on a preferred contractor is likely to made by the end of May.”

The client, Hammerson, has divided the work into two phases. The first involves a refurbishment of the 26-storey tower building, at 125 Old Broad Street. Work on the building, which was opened in 1972, is due to start on site later this year.

The new west building, 60 Threadneedle Street, replaces the former stock exchange market building. It will be redeveloped as an office and retail tower.

In May 2003 the stock exchange left its home after more than 200 years in the same location, and moved to its new headquarters at Paternoster Square, next to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Hammerson is understood to have paid £67m for the property, but is set to sell it on after the redevelopment.

Bovis Lend Lease has been appointed as construction adviser for the £750m redevelopment of the centre of the Berkshire town of Bracknell.

The contractor will develop plans for the site with the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership. A Richard Rogers Partnership masterplan for the scheme was submitted for planning permission in December 2004.

If the application is approved on schedule this summer, construction work will start in 2006, with phased completion from 2008.