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Mace is on the verge of beating Laing O鈥橰ourke and Balfour Beatty to deliver Network Rail鈥檚 拢600m Birmingham New Street station, it is understood.

The surprise decision would see Mace act as an Olympic-style delivery partner on the project, overseeing all aspects of the construction programme. Foreign Office Architects (FOA) will design the scheme鈥檚 exterior, having emerged as the winner from a shortlist that included Rafael Vi帽oly Architects.

The appointments will be a milestone in the project, which has a troubled history. An original scheme, drawn up in 2005 by John McAslan + Partners with WSP, was scaled back in August 2007 when the government said it would only contribute 拢128m in funding, rather than the 拢350m requested.

McAslan and WSP were dropped from the scheme in February this year in favour of 好色先生TV Design Partnershp (BDP) and Atkins, just as the government announced that it would put up 拢400m for the project.

FOA will design the station鈥檚 exterior and an atrium; BDP and Atkins will flesh out designs for the rest of the development.

FOA has also been appointed to the 拢1bn Euston station redevelopment for British Land and Network Rail.

Network Rail is expected to announce an appointment within the next fortnight. The scheme would be one of Mace鈥檚 biggest rail projects to date, and it will be a boost to the firm to have seen off competition from Balfour Beatty and Laing O鈥橰ourke 鈥� both of which have experience of large rail projects.

Balfour Beatty recently beat Laing O鈥橰ourke to the 拢180m redevelopment of Blackfriars station in London, due to complete in 2011.