Miller takes over £42m shopping centre project

Miller Construction has stepped into the breach on a £42m shopping centre scheme in Kent after Kier failed to agree a budget with the client.

Miller Construction has been named as the design and build contractor for the long-gestating Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre in Maidstone by client Centros Miller.

Kier was in pole position for the project last summer, but according to a spokeswoman: "We reached preferred bidder status, but in this instance we couldn't achieve the client's budget."

Miller has a good track record with large shopping centres, having built Centre West in East Kilbride for British Land.

Miller is part of the Miller Group, which has a 50% share in Centros Miller. A source assured CJ the connection between contractor and client was not a factor in the latter's decision.

The scheme, comprising 35,000m2 of retail space and an 800-space multi-storey car park, is due to start later this month. Plans for Fremlin were first submitted in 1989.

Miller has taken on the scheme's design team including Chapman Taylor as architect, Clarke Bond as structural engineer, Cudd Bentley as M&E consultant and WSP Development as highways engineer.