Sir Robert wins second major deal with Arsenal

Sir Robert McAlpine has netted another major coup on the back of its £250m project to build Arsenal FC's new 60,000-capacity Emirates stadium.

The contractor has now negotiated a £160m deal with Arsenal subsidiary Highbury Holdings to redevelop the club's former north London home, Highbury Stadium.

In what is understood to be the world's first sporting stadium to be transformed into housing, the scheme, to be known as Highbury Square, includes the construction of 704 luxury apartments.

Work will kick off on the South Stand apartments, with completion of these anticipated for summer 2008.

The project also features a nursery, gym, shops and possibly a health centre.

The art- deco faccades of the existingexisiting Grade II-listed East Stand and the locally-listed West Stand will be retained.

And in line with the football terraces' original rectangular arrangement, the apartments will face inwards towards a central garden square, which will mirror the exact dimensions of the former soccer pitch.

Most of the demolition work at the former stadium should be completed by the end of t January 2007, with completion of the total project scheduled for 2010.

Highbury Square is the centrepieice of a scheme thatwhich involves more than 24 ha of land in the surrounding area.

The overall redevelopment plan features more than 2,000 new homes, as well as healthcare facilities and community space.

[Contract Journal, 20 September 2006, p10]