A contract to redevelop the former site of Birmingham's Post & Mail newspapers has been awarded to Balfour Beatty.

The deal will see the company undertake the first phase of work on the £90 million project which aims to completely renovate the historic Post & Mail building that has been an ever-present in the UK's second largest city ever since it was constructed in 1964

It was a symbol of Birmingham's recovery following the series of bombings it endured during the Second World War, and housed the city's two leading newspapers, The Birmingham Post and Evening Mail. The two were situated in the building from 1965 until 2008 when they moved to Fort Dunlop outside of the city with the latter being rebranded the Birmingham Evening Mail.

The Construction Enquirer has now reported that Balfour Beatty will undertake the major regeneration of the historic structure and beat off competition from the likes of Skanska and Thomas Vales in the battle for the first £20 million phase of the former newspaper printing site. The company is expected to begin work in July starting with renovation on the basement.

Officials revealed that phase one of the refurbishment will see the old shell of the building demolished and then the existing 70 metre base of the structure will be converted into a six-deck, 800-space car park with a two-storey building being constructed on top.

A project insider told the Enquirer: "The project was due on site in May but was delayed slightly through the bidding process while the winning contractor was selected. It's a complex job because existing floors need to be retained while the car park levels are built from the bottom up."

The first floor of the building will be made available for retailers to buy units while a second level will be constructed during the next phase of the development. It continues major regeneration work in Birmingham that is already encompassing the revitalisation of the Digbeth area which is currently having a host buildings redeveloped.

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