Five developers are through to the shortlist for the long-awaited St Mary le Port scheme in Bristol.
Bristol council picked AMEC, Development Securities, Grosvenor, Helical Bar and Bristol-based Deeley Freed.
The 4-acre St Mary le Port site is seen as crucial to the long-term regeneration of the city centre because it links the planned £500m Broadmead shopping centre extension and the rapidly emerging Temple Quarter office area.
Redevelopment of St Mary le Port has been held back by the failure of major long leaseholders Morley and London & Paris, working as Strand Street Properties, to agree on how to develop it.
The council stepped in to unlock the site last October, appointing Savills as consultant.
A source said: “There is a new determination to make things happen at St Mary le Port.
“The local authority’s determination to press on is demonstrated by the presence of the UK’s top developers on the list.”
The developers have until January to draw up detailed proposals, including how they would work with Morley and L&P.
The site has been largely unused since the departure of the Bank of England and Norwich Union five years ago.
Savills’ Bristol director Richard Rees, who is advising, was unavailable for comment.
References: EGi News 05/08/05
