Clarion Housing Group has started the hunt for a main contractor to deliver an £80m south London housing project after securing planning consent in the face of fire safety objections.

Bromley Council has backed plans to demolish the Blenheim Shopping Centre in Penge and build 230 homes across four blocks with ground-floor commercial space.

Under the thee-year contract expected to be let by April next year the winning firm will be responsible for demolition and construction.

One of the blocks – a six-storey building containing 26 flats – was redesigned to 17.7m in height, just below the 18m threshold that legally requires a second staircase.

Schematic of blocks in Penge scheme

The change was made by lowering the ground-floor commercial ceiling height, prompting the London Fire Brigade to accuse the developers of an “ethically unjustified” design move.

Two larger blocks on the site, where the majority of flats will be located, will include second staircases in line with post-Grenfell regulations.

Applications are due in by 22 October.

Click here for full tender details and how to bid.