£155m Carillion Lumiere job put on ice

Carillion has stopped work on a £155m contract to build Europe's tallest residential tower block in Leeds after the scheme's developer put the project on ice.

KW Linfoot said that it would halt the Lumiere scheme, which will see the construction of one 55-storey tower and a second 33-storey tower because of the credit crunch. Lumiere is expected to offer 952 apartments as well as commercial and retail space.

Contractors had started piling work on the project, but are now expected to leave the site until economic conditions improve. Carillion signed the £155m deal to execute the works earlier this year.

But Richard Dean, joint managing director at K W Linfoot confirmed said: “We are of course disappointed that we are unable to progress plans for Lumiere to the anticipated timescale but we have to take heed of the current climate. We have made a sensible and pragmatic decision to put on hold construction at a time when the piling works are complete and before we embark on the next phase. 

“We have already invested a considerable amount of time and money to deliver this iconic structure for Leeds and remain committed to progress plans when the market stabilises.  Hopefully this will be sooner rather than later," he said.