Manchester company Laing O'Rourke has been appointed to refurbish the city's Town Hall Complex.
The Hulme-based firm has been awarded the construction contract for the transformation of the Town Hall Extension, Central Library and St Peter's Square - which is worth around £90 million.
At the heart of the Council's transformation programme are the twin goals of delivering better, easier to access services while preserving and enhancing historic buildings and spaces for future generations.
The key element of the programme is the creation of an integrated Customer Service Centre, which will allow people to access all the council services they need in a single visit. This more accessible and efficient approach is being pioneered in the Customer Service Centre at One First Street and will be expanded when services return to the refurbished Town Hall Extension in three years' time.
Works to make the historic Town Hall Extension and Central Library buildings more energy efficient will also contribute to the Council's drive to cut its own carbon footprint, part of the goal of reducing the city's carbon emissions by 41 per cent by 2020.
Both the Town Hall Extension and Central Library and Central Library are Grade II*-listed and their respective refurbishments will be sympathetic and ensure that listed features are preserved. A public pre-planning consultation on proposed designs recently took place.
Councillor Bernard Priest, Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, said: "The importance of this project to Manchester residents cannot be overstated. It is firmly focused on providing them with better services while giving them a world-class civic complex which they can be proud of for years to come.
"Throughout this process we have chosen bids which provide the best combination of value for money and quality but it's particularly pleasing that the best bid came from a Manchester company and that our investment will support and create jobs right here and have knock-on benefits for other local contractors."
(CD/BMcC)
Construction News
06/08/2010
Transformation Contract Awarded To Laing O'Rourke
.gif)

25/04/2025
Aston Villa Football Club has unveiled plans to refurbish and expand the iconic North Stand at Villa Park, a major step in the wider regeneration of the North Grounds.
The redevelopment will raise the stadium's total capacity to over 50,000, with the North Stand alone increasing to more than 12,00

25/04/2025
Morgan Sindall Construction's Southern Home Counties team has officially handed over the newly completed Crawley Innovation Centre to Crawley Borough Council (CBC).
The transformation of the former TUI travel house into a cutting-edge innovation, economic and technology hub drew local leaders, busi

25/04/2025
Clowes Developments has confirmed that construction will soon commence on five new trade counter, warehouse and industrial units at Stud Brook Business Park in Castle Donington, following planning approval from North West Leicestershire District Council.
The new development, Plot 1, will feature fi

25/04/2025
A historic 18th-century landmark has been carefully restored as part of the major Garendon Park housing development in Loughborough.
The Grade II* listed Obelisk, located within the grounds of the former Garendon Hall estate, had endured years of weathering before undergoing a sensitive restoration

25/04/2025
Mace has appointed industry heavyweight, Gary Sweeney, to head up its European team working across the Healthcare, Life Sciences and Technology sectors.
Gary joins Mace following a spell as Interim Director in Turner & Townsend’s Advanced Manufacturing, Industrial and Logistics division in the UK

25/04/2025
A groundbreaking ceremony has recently marked the start of a £5.5 million extension project at Thorp Academy in Ryton, Gateshead.
The development, aimed at accommodating the growing student population, is being delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction on behalf of the Northern Education Trust (NET

25/04/2025
Wakefield-based Henley Stone Specialists has been appointed to deliver Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) elements for the first phase of 'Our Cultural Heart', Kirklees Council’s flagship project aimed at revitalising Huddersfield town centre.
Part of the Henley Construction Management Group, Henley S

25/04/2025
More than 2,500 Nottingham homes are set to benefit from energy efficiency improvements as part of a major £153 million regional initiative to cut household bills and carbon emissions.
Nottingham City Council's Executive Board has approved the acceptance of nearly £76 million in Government funding

25/04/2025
Introduction: What Is a Fitted Hoist?
A fitted hoist is a mechanical lifting device installed in the home to help safely move individuals with limited mobility. Commonly found in bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces, these systems make it easier and safer to transfer someone between a bed, chair,

25/04/2025
Rail services between Hereford and Shrewsbury are facing significant disruption following the collapse of an underground culvert, forcing the closure of the line in both directions.
Emergency engineering works are underway to ensure the safety of the railway.
Network Rail's engineering teams are