ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø

Five firms are in the race to land spots on the highest value lot of a £1bn framework for Barking and Dagenham council’s regeneration company Be First.

ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø understands that Kier, McLaren, Wates, Willmott Dixon and Bouygues will all submit bids at the end of the month for the chance to land a place on the framework which is expected to see up to three firms appointed to it.

Laing O’Rourke, which had expressed interest in the scheme, has decided not to bid.

Be First has split its framework into two with the smaller value lot taking in jobs of up to £20m.

The minimum value of work for the larger lot is £10m but a number of deals on the four year framework will be north of £50m with some jobs approaching £100m. Winners are due to be announced by the end of the year.

Work set to be procured under the contract includes residential as well as a host of other schemes such as schools and community centres.

The first job to be let on the larger framework is a scheme to turn a rundown 1960s office block on Barking’s Cambridge Road called Crown House into a residential development of nearly 400 flats.

Designed by architect Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher, the existing building will be torn down and replaced with a scheme (pictured) of nine storeys and 29 storeys. Be First is developing the scheme alongside a private developer called Lightquote.

The scheme will also include new cafés and restaurants, improved public access and a landscaped public square. A grade II-listed church will be retained between the twin towers.