Bovis Lend Lease bags £130m green Sky project

A Bovis Lend Lease and Arup consortium has won a £130m contract to build a “green” headquarters for broadcaster Sky Sports in west London.

It has emerged that the Bovis consortium won the three-year contract for the 25,000m2 building, which will contain eight TV studios and editing suites, at the end of last year after Mace had completed pre-construction work last autumn.

The scheme forms the first phase of a plan drawn up by Sky and developer Stanhope to completely overhaul the satellite broadcaster’s ageing west London premises in Osterley.

It is understood that Sky is keen to modernise its facilities as it has steadily expanded since it launched in 1989. Production for Sky Sports is currently spread over several parts of the Osterley site and the new building being built by Bovis will bring these under one roof.

Sky has kept its proposals for the sustainable building under wraps with the intention of announcing them as part of a PR offensive in early summer.

A source said: “This is the first piece in a large jigsaw.

The idea is to bring Sky into the 21st century in terms of its accommodation – it wants to make it as green as possible.”

It is understood that Sky has asked Arup to find ways to use natural ventilation in as much of the building as possible.

It is also discussing the possibility of installing wind turbines on the site.

Bovis and Arup have been on site since November and tower cranes were installed last week.

Carey has won the groundwork contract and Fisher is the steelwork contractor. The project is due to be completed in February 2010.

A statement from Sky said: “BSkyB, Stanhope, Arup Associates and Bovis Lend Lease are embarking together on the construction of studios, broadcast facilities and office space at Sky’s campus in Osterley, west London. Construction began in November 2007 and is due for completion in 2010.”