Carillion in £155m deal to build Lumiere
THE managing director of the developer behind what will become Europe's tallest residential development today said a £155m contract to build its two towers would put doubts about its future “to bed”.
Construction company Carillion has secured the contract to build the Lumiere scheme in Leeds, which will consist of two towers incorporating residential, retail, commercial and office space.
Speaking from the international property conference MIPIM, which is taking place in Cannes this week, Richard Dean, Leeds-based city living company KW Linfoot's managing director, told TheBusinessDesk.com: “We can't stop gossiping or the rumours starting. All we can do is continue to develop the scheme. We've always had high levels of interest in the scheme.”
Lumiere's main tower will be 54 storeys high and stand at 171m tall (559ft), while the second tower will be 31 storeys tall and 112m high.
Wolverhampton-based Carillion moved onto the Wellington Street site earlier this week to drive forward work. Hewlett Civil Engineering, based in Leeds, has been on the site since December preparing the ground works.
Mr Dean said negotiations to tie-up the contract with Carillion, which started work on the site earlier this week, had been ongoing for the past six months.
Because of the sensitive negotiations, it had been difficult for KW Linfoot to reassure the market that the scheme was still progressing as originally planned, said Mr Dean.
He said: “The contractor and funding is now place and away we go. And now by confirming this partnership I think we can put these rumours to bed.”
Mr Dean, who said Lumiere was scheduled to be completed in “219 weeks”, added that apart from a “couple of minor tweaks”, which had been approved by Leeds planning officials, Lumiere would be built according to its original specifications and would not be scaled down.
Carillion chief executive John McDonough said: “We are delighted to have secured this prestigious project, which will provide a focal point for the regeneration of the West End area of Leeds.”
Tower one at Lumiere will house retail units at ground and mezzanine levels with the remaining floors being predominantly dedicated to private apartments designed by international designer Philippe Starck.
The second tower will also house retail units at ground and mezzanine levels with commercial office space between levels one and 10 and the upper floors comprising both serviced and private apartments, for those aged 55 and above.
An enclosed winter garden will link the two towers at ground floor level and car parking will be provided at three basement levels. Construction will take four years.
Property developer Kevin Linfoot last month laughed off suggestions that his company's Lumiere project was under threat as the credit crunch tightened its grip on the economy.
