Race on for Olympic flats

A host of major contractors are set to bid for the next package of athlete accommodation blocks at the Olympic Village in East London.

Sir Robert McAlpine, Carillion, Vinci and John Sisk & Son are believed to be interested in the works, with bids due in at the end of August.

Wates and Ardmore Construction are also planning to submit tenders.

One contractor said: "It's a prestigious job that will definitely go ahead. That's why so many people are interested in it now."

The package includes the construction of blocks 9 and 10 of the 11-block Village, which consists of towers between eight and 10-storeys tall.

Developer Lend Lease is in charge of procuring the work, which involves the construction of 2,800 apartments to house athletes, with work due to finish in early 2012 to allow a six-month snagging period.

After the Games, the flats will be converted into a mixture of homes for sale and affordable housing.

In May, Lend Lease shortlisted Ardmore, Galliford Try and Wates as Tier 1 contractors to build 300 apartments on one of the plots. A contractor is due to be appointed shortly.

So far, work on the £1.1bn Athletes Village has included site infrastructure and enabling works, with substructure and superstructure works underway on several plots.