Conran sues over Great Eastern

SIR Terence Conran's Great Eastern Hotel Company has issued legal proceedings against construction firm John Laing, alleging late and over-budget completion of its Great Eastern Hotel in London.

The hotel company is seeking £18.5 million in damages and costs following a High Court writ alleging Laing delivered the project a year late and overshot the budget by £27 million. The 267-room hotel was completed in June 2000.