Trio of possible contractors for Birmingham Library

Carillion, Laing O'Rourke and Sir Robert McAlpine have been shortlisted as possible contractors for the £193 million Library of Birmingham.

The trio will be invited to submit a tender by August 1st and formal interviews will follow, with the winning bidder expected to be announced before the end of 2008, Building reports.

A similar exercise to recruit a design team to work with the chosen construction partner is nearing completion, with a decision on which of seven architectural practices has been chosen later this summer.

The Library of Birmingham will be developed on land adjoining the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (REP) and is due to open in 2013.

Mike Whitby, Birmingham City council leader told the publication: "We are determined that the new library, integrated with the REP, will be among the very finest and most user-friendly civic buildings in the world.

The city's existing Central Library is the busiest public library in Britain and was built in the early 1970s.

A new library is being created as the current building is unsuitable for modern-day needs, the council said.

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