The Paradise Circus regeneration is set to become one of the biggest commercial developments to take place in Birmingham over the next few years, with £500 million worth of investment being channelled into the scheme by a number of different backers. Obviously, gaining the contract for the first phase infrastructure and enabling work will heap prestige upon the lucky firm chosen – which was last week revealed to be Wolverhampton based construction and support services giant Carillion.
Following a formal tender process, the Paradise Circus joint partnership between Birmingham City Council and Hermes Real Estate selected Carillion to conduct a series of enabling works and the first phase of infrastructure delivery, due to begin in the city this autumn. Although the sum Carillion is expected to receive as a result of its involvement in the scheme is yet to be revealed, experts believe that a figure in the vicinity of £30 million is likely.
Chief executive of Carillion, Richard Howson, expressed his delight at the outcome of deliberations.
He said; “Paradise Circus is a crucial project for the city and Carillion is very proud to have been selected to be part of it.
“We are looking forward immensely to starting work on the site, supporting infrastructure and working alongside such an experienced and successful team.”
The appointment of Carillion is a huge step in the Paradise Circus regeneration programme, which is expected to generate hundreds of jobs and lift consumer footfall in Birmingham city centre. As the heart of the West Midlands, Birmingham is already going a long way to combat unemployment in the region – an effort which will be bolstered by the creation of jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors during the Paradise Circus project.
Along with Birmingham City Council and Hermes Real Estate, developer Argent is due to play a major role in work conducted throughout the entirety of the project. It will be responsible for managing the design and delivery of the site’s commercial properties, acting on behalf of the Paradise Circus General Partner in order to ensure targets are met within the set timescale.
Senior project director for Argent, Rob Groves, believes Carillion’s involvement in the project will prove beneficial for all involved parties.
He says; “The project is now moving forward very rapidly with activity planned to start on the site later this year, on the first phase of the major redevelopment of this key part of the city centre.
“The appointment of Carillion as contractor, following that of Grant Associates as Landscape Architects, Glenn Howells as architects of the first building and the imminent results of an architects’ competition for the design of the second, is a further indicator of the positive evolution of this game changing development for Birmingham.”
