Costain favourite to win St Martin-in-the-Fields

Costain's prayers look to have been answered, with the contractor understood to be favourite to win a £23m revamp of a famous landmark church in London.
Insiders say that Costain is set to trump a bid from its only remaining rival, Walter Lilly, for the redevelopment of St Martin-in-the-Fields in
Trafalgar Square.
The client is expected to formally announce the winner of the scheme before the end of
this month.
Work is set to start on the two-stage fixed-price deal early next year, with completion due by 2007. In essence, the work entails restoring the church and extending it into Trafalgar Square.
The project is notable for the extensive amount of underground digging involved to excavate the vaults beneath the church to a depth of around 4.5m.
One project source said: "The work is exciting, but a bit risky."
The scheme also includes building a lower ground floor entrance pavilion and foyer to the 18th-century church.
The other contractors pitching for the deal were: Wallis, Kier's historic building subsidiary; JSG Interior Exterior;
and Mowlem.
Local planners gave the revamp the go-ahead last year and the redevelopment of the church has also won the support of the Prince of Wales, who has agreed to become a patron of the trust looking after the project.
Eric Perry is architect for the project, with Gardiner & Theobald heading off competition from Rowney Sharman and Bovis Lend Lease last year to oversee the scheme.
The project team includes M&E contractor Max Fordham and structural engineer Alan Baxter & Associates.