Higgins picks up £250m regeneration job from Lovell

Higgins has supplanted Lovell on a £247m regeneration scheme in Basildon, after Lovell was dropped from the job, CJ has learned.

The 10-year project to to build 1,300 homes, a new community centre and shops in the Fryerns and Craylands area was originally supposed to be delivered by a partnership between English Partnerships, Basildon Council, Essex County Council, Swan Housing Association and Lovell.

A source close to the project told CJ: "Lovell were taken off the project quite a while ago. Higgins has been to-ing and fro-ing with Swan for quite a while now. But a deal has now been done. Higgins is expected to sign contracts before Christmas and is due to start work early in the New Year."

A Lovell spokesman said: "We have not been formally notified by Swan Housing Association that we are no longer working on the Craylands Estate scheme and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage."

A Basildon Council spokesman added: "Swan Housing is managing the development contract. It is a matter for them to decide which company they employ to take forward the work. The Council’s only concern is that the properties are built to the highest standard."

Swan Housing Association declined to comment.