Five vie for £100m regeneration

Five organisations will pick up the development brief by late September for a regeneration deal in south-east London worth at least £100m.

Bexley council's Erith Western Gateway project has attracted Barratt Homes, Crest Nicholson, Gleeson Homes, French giant Bouygues in joint venture with Moat Homes, and new developer on the block, Generator LLP. The winner of the contest is expected to emerge next spring, but a council contact said: "This is a complex project and the land is in multiple ownership, so a start on site is not expected until late 2009 or the beginning of 2010."

The council and its partner, regeneration agency English Partnerships, want to see proposals for at least 500 new homes, a hotel, offices, shops, leisure uses and open space.

Councillor John Waters, Bexley's Cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said: "Developers who want to work with us will need to reflect excellent design and the highest environmental standards, with the latest energy-saving technology."

The Gateway comprises a collection of sites bounded by the River Thames and the high street.