ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV

Sir Robert McAlpine is going head to head against Laing O’Rourke in the race to build a major mixed-use scheme on the former Middlesex Hospital site in central London.

The Fitzrovia-based project - thought to be worth up to £750m and being developed by Exemplar Properties - has been designed by architects Sheppard Robson and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands won planning back in February.

Before the shortlist was narrowed to the final two, other contractors in the running had included Balfour Beatty and Mace.

The building contract is estimated to be worth up to £160m.

The site is one of the largest in central London and was once part-owned by the Candy brothers, who dubbed their proposed development ‘NoHo Square’.

This plan was halted after planners rejected the scheme and Icelandic bank Kaupthing - which was backing the project - went into administration, prompting the Candys to pull out.

Under the new plan, the brownfield site will become a mixed-use community, centred around two buildings and a landscaped public square containing a listed hospital chapel.