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BDP has been dropped from a high-profile 拢600m job to design two hospitals in Leeds and been replaced by a team formed by rival bidder Perkins & Will.

The practice was announced as the winner of the 拢9.5m design contract to design an adults鈥� and a children鈥檚 hospital for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in August.

But the trust has now said it was 鈥渘ot able to progress鈥� with discussions on the scheme following a period of preferred bidder engagement. It did not divulge further details of the break-down.

The practice will now be replaced by the runner-up in the competition, a Perkins & Will team led by Penoyre & Prasad with Schmidt Hammer Lassen. 

The trust鈥檚 finance director Simon Worthington said: 鈥淲e were unable to proceed with one of our tenderers but, in accordance with good procurement practice, the right thing to do was to follow due process and this has resulted in the Perkins & Will team being appointed as the trust鈥檚 preferred bidder to take forward this design opportunity. 

鈥淭he competition process to appoint an architect was very strong with a number of international practices taking part which meant we received some exceptional concept designs.鈥�

BDP鈥檚 proposals showed a complex of buildings which the architect said had been inspired by the hills and valleys of the Yorkshire Dales.

Worthington said the Perkins & Will concept design was 鈥渧ery exciting and will create a fantastic landmark for the hospital and the city of Leeds and we are delighted to be working with them to create the new hospitals.鈥� 

The trust said Perkins & Wills鈥� designs hark back to the original Leeds General Infirmary opened by Prince Albert in 1869, which prioritised light and air.

The proposals will include a rooftop plaza with gardens 鈥渂oasting local plants and trees that will be inspired by the local landscape鈥�.

BDP鈥檚 designs had also been set to include large outdoor spaces filled with daylight, greenery and providing panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Following their unveiling, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Julian Hartley had called BDP鈥檚 proposals 鈥渋nspirational鈥�, adding that they would create a 鈥渓andmark public building, of real architectural quality, of which Leeds can truly be proud.鈥�

Perkins & Will managing principal Mark Rowe said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously a huge privilege to be entrusted with the design of such a prominent site in one of the country鈥檚 most important cities. 

鈥淲orking closely with the trust, we believe we can deliver an outstanding building that not only supports exemplary clinical care and treatment but that over time can become as cherished a part of the Leeds cityscape as George Gilbert Scott鈥檚 exemplary original hospital.鈥�

BDP declined to comment.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was one of six to be awarded a share of 拢2.7bn of funding as part of the first wave of the government鈥檚 health infrastructure plan.

The shortlist for the competition also included CF Moller, HOK and NBBJ.