Mace may overlook Cleveland Bridge for Shard steel package
09:25 04 Mar 2009
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Mace is talking to other steelwork contractors about a £50m package on the Shard which Cleveland Bridge thought was in the bag.
Cleveland was named as one of the main package contractors last year by developer Sellar Property Group.
But CJ understands the contract is yet to be signed and main contractor Mace is now sounding-out rival steel firms.
A Cleveland source said: "We are in final negotiations over this, but Mace is talking to other firms and no contract has been signed yet."
Mace was finally confirmed as main contractor on the £425m London tower last week following protracted negotiations throughout its four-year association with the job.
Mace has signed a fixed-price contract to deliver the job.
A source close to the scheme said: "It's a different sort of role from Mace's usual position as construction manager.
"This time as its fixed price it's their own money at risk so they'll want to keep everything as tight as possible.
"Cleveland is the name in the frame for the steel but Mace is talking to other contractors. Basically, there are only a handful of firms such as Severfield, Hollandia and William Hare that could take on a job this size.
"Cleveland was first put forward last June and a lot has changed since then. Mace was made to dance around for months over price by the client, so it makes sense they'll do the same with the major packages."
Mace declined to comment on the package awards, but chief executive Stephen Pycroft described the go-ahead for the Shard as "an encouraging sign for our industry in difficult times."
Stent is carryingout piling work on the site and construction of the 310m-hightower is due for completion in spring 2012.