Three named for lucrative deals on prized £1bn east London framework

Kier and Bouygues have missed out on the highest value lot of a £1bn framework in east London for Barking and Dagenham council’s regeneration company Be First.

Instead, McLaren, Wates and Willmott Dixon have all been chosen for the work with schemes starting at £10m although a number of deals on the four year framework will be north of £50m with some jobs approaching £100m.

The first job on this framework, known as Lot 2, will be carried out by McLaren and is a scheme to turn a rundown 1960s office block (pictured, below) on Barking’s Cambridge Road called Crown House into a residential development of nearly 400 flats.

Designed by architect Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher, the existing building will be torn down and replaced with a scheme of nine storeys and 29 storeys. Be First is developing the scheme alongside a private developer called Lightquote.

The scheme will also include new cafés and restaurants, improved public access and a landscaped public square. A grade II-listed church will be retained between the twin towers.

Iain Ferguson, commercial director at Be First, said: “It was an exhaustive selection process and the competition was fierce, but now we are able to pick up the pace of delivery to restore Barking and Dagenham to its historic position as the place for working Londoners to find a high quality affordable home.”

Last month, Be First announced the winners for the smaller lot of work taking in jobs of up to £20m.

The smaller parcel of work, called Lot 1, has gone to four firms: J Murphy, Jerram Falkus Construction, Mulalley and United Living (South).

Be First said the framework will be able to be used by other local authorities.