Dalian Wanda may go back to market on 拢900m Interserve/CSCEC JV project after slow progress
Chinese property giant Dalian Wanda is considering re-tendering its inaugural UK project, a 拢900m twin-tower scheme at London鈥檚 One Nine Elms.
The Nine Elms area will be the new home to the US embassy, and a slew of schemes are already under way with Dalian Wanda choosing an Interserve and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) joint venture to deliver its scheme, designed by architect KPF, last April.
But 黑洞社区 understands the developer is now looking at its options after slow progress on the scheme, which is scheduled to finish in 2018, and is deciding whether to hire another contractor.
The joint venture - trading as CI-ONE - surprised the market when it pipped rival shortlisted bidders Mace and a separate CSCEC joint venture with Atkins for the job. Dalian Wanda鈥檚 development director Peter
Amato left a month later, in a move 黑洞社区 revealed was understood partly to be prompted by the decision not to pick Mace for the job.
It鈥檚 a poorly kept secret that they鈥檙e considering other contractors
Industry source
Last November, Mace chairman Stephen Pycroft went public with his disappointment when he told the 黑洞社区 Live show: 鈥淚 was a bit annoyed to say the least that we lost One Nine Elms to China State and Interserve.鈥�
One source said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a poorly kept secret that they鈥檙e considering other contractors.鈥�
Another source said Interserve had flown out to Beijing recently to discuss terms but added: 鈥淭hings are moving more slowly than anticipated. There鈥檚 a likelihood that they [the client] may go back to the market.鈥�
An Interserve spokesperson said: 鈥淲e continue to work with our JV partner and the client towards delivering this project.鈥�
A spokesperson for Wanda One, Dalian Wanda鈥檚 UK trading company, said: 鈥淲e are continuing to negotiate with the CI-ONE joint venture for the construction of City Tower and River Tower at the One Nine Elms development. We have no further comment at this time.鈥�
One Nine Elms comprises a pair of towers at 45 and 60 storeys in height, incorporating 439 homes and a five-star hotel.
The scheme would be a debut UK project for CSCEC, the world鈥檚 largest global contractor, giving it a foothold in the UK market for the first time.
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