on January 21 London & Continental Railways shortlisted eight groups for a contract to develop St Pancras Chambers. They are: Bouygues, DEGW/TG and Lynton consortia, British Land Co plc, The Burrell Co, Midland Grand Hotel Group, Rainham International and St Pancras Chambers Hotel Group.
LCR subsidiary London & Continental Stations & Property Ltd launched the competition last September, seeking a commercially viable use for the former hotel fronting London’s St Pancras station that would ensure its ’effective restoration’ and ’future long term maintenance’. The listed six-storey building was completed in 1873 by George Gilbert Scott for the Midland Railway. Converted to offices in 1935, St Pancras Chambers has been vacant since the early 1980s.
According to LCR, all eight groups have ’considerable property heritage experience’ and have proposed schemes for a ’sensitive’ refurbishment of the building, an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic style. Proposals include a mix of hotel, retail, catering, conference and residential.
Detailed submissions are due in June and LCR hopes to place a contract in time for work to be complete for opening of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2003. o
