Winner on west London scheme due shortly

Laing O鈥橰ourke and Sir Robert McAlpine are neck and neck in the race for the prized deal to overhaul the grade II-listed Whiteleys shopping centre in west London.

The pair are due to find out shortly who has won the 拢250m deal to turn the 1980s shopping centre behind the historic 1911 Queensway fa莽ade in Bayswater into a residential and hotel mixed-use development under plans drawn up by Foster + Partners.

O鈥橰ourke has brought its team over from Hammerson鈥檚 stalled Brent Cross shopping centre scheme to lead its bid and had been considered favourite for the job.

But 好色先生TV understands the scheme鈥檚 decision-makers are split over who to appoint. 鈥淭he design team likes the O鈥橰ourke bid but the client is liking McAlpine,鈥 one source said.

The redevelopment is being headed by a joint venture between a Meyer Bergman-advised fund and Warrior Group with development manager on the scheme, luxury property firm Finchatton.

The Whiteleys project will include 129 homes, along with 100,000 sq ft of shops, a cinema and a hotel.

Others working on the 拢1bn development include project manager Gardiner & Theobald, QS Alinea, civil and structural engineer AKT II and WSP as the traffic and waste engineer.

Bids from Mace and Multiplex fell earlier in the race.

Whiteleys

How the redevelopment will look under Foster + Partners鈥 plans