Ardmore is forced to re-bid for City scheme

Ardmore is being forced to re-tender for a £190m City of London job despite starting on the site more than five months ago.

The firm was awarded the Milton Court scheme last year and started work on the Barbican site in February.

But developer Heron International has now decided to re-tender the job. Laing O'Rourke, Mace and Skanska have now joined Ardmore in the race to build the 35-storey residential tower above a new theatre for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Ardmore was originally awarded the job in a joint venture with Mace, but then decided to go it alone.

It has carried out groundworks on the job, but progress has been on hold during the downturn in the residential market.

A site source said: "The client has decided to go back out and test the market. Ardmore started work five months ago but things were put on hold due to the downturn.

"Backers of the scheme want to see if they can do things cheaper so other firms have been invited in."

CJ understands that new bids have to be in by this Friday. Start on site for the main construction works is expected within the next 10 months and the lump-sum job will take 30 months to build.

The site source said: "If Ardmore loses out it will just be paid for the work it has already carried-out."

Heron International declined to comment.