BOLTON Council director of place, Gerry Brough explained at corporate resources and external issues scrutiny committee, how Beijing Construction and Engineering Group came to be the major players in the Midia-led BRL consortium.

He said: “Midia selected the best of the two Chinese offers on the table, which was from Beijing Construction and Engineering Group”already involved in the Manchester Airport development and Salford Quays, so have a track record of investing in major projects in the UK.”

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He added that while carrying out “due diligence on BCEGI” the council was told “it was basically the Chinese government we are dealing with”.

“So we are quite pleased to get them involved and the deals with Midia, it does mean we present the right opportunities to them, they have the funding to see them through.”

“They are the second-biggest construction company in China owned by the Chinese government as the name suggests. They built quite a lot of Beijing and are involved in developments all over the world.”

The consortium also includes the Department for International Trade and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).