BAM Construction has been selected as the preferred contractor to build the Leeds Arena.

Leeds City Council's formal announcement of the preferred contractor is a major step forward in the delivery of the 13,500 capacity Leeds Arena and a welcome boost to the construction economy locally.

BAM is currently leading on a £9.2 million refurbishment of the Leeds City Varieties theatre and previously constructed the award-winning and striking Leeds Metropolitan University building, the Rose Bowl.

A huge £55 million construction project, the arena is expected to add around £25.5m per year to the city’s economy and protect around 100 construction jobs. It will create an additional 100 jobs for local residents with potentially 90 apprenticeships.

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The council also announced today that Bovis Lend Lease has been selected as the reserved contractor. They will maintain knowledge of the project and will be ready to ‘step up’ to preferred contractor status should the need arise.

The Leeds Arena will set a new benchmark in arena design, being the UK’s first purpose built arena with a 'fan-shape super theatre design' which guarantees that every seat in the house will enjoy perfect sightlines of the centre stage.

The announcement of the preferred contractor and reserve contractor follows a recent decision to grant outline planning permission for the arena building. The project remains on track for the construction contractor to take control of the site this year, with completion fully on course for 2012. Construction work is currently scheduled to start late in 2010.

James Wimpenny, Director of BAM in the North East, said: "This is a fabulous project for BAM to be building. We’ll be bringing the skills and expertise that has gone into building the stadium to host this year's World Cup Final to the Arena, together with our local knowledge and track record in Leeds. We look forward to working with Leeds City Council, as we are on the prestigious and much-loved City Varieties, to make Leeds proud of this new signature building."

(CD/BMcC)