Sir Robert McAlpine bags £25m St Austell hotel project

Sir Robert McAlpine has checked in for a £25m leisure-sector deal in the West Country.

The firm has edged ahead of three rivals to take the Cornwall Hotel and Spa project near St Austell, Cornwall.

An insider said: "This has been rumbling on for some time. At first, it seemed Kier was well-placed to win the contract, but there were problems with exceeding the budget for the job and the client eventually went for McAlpine."

It is understood that Carillion and Cowlin also pitched for the deal.

The centrepiece of the scheme involves converting a country house that has been empty for 40 years, but which has now been bought by Bristol-based developer CMR Leisure, along with 45ha of a Victorian parkland estate.

The scheme, located in the village of Tregorrick, features a 65-bedroom hotel, the stables block converted into a gymnasium and spa, plus a swimming pool in the garden area.