The firms left in the running are a Barratt Group and Kier joint venture; Bouygues UK;  a St Modwen and Vinci pairing.

Berkeley Group, Stanhope and the Garden Development Partnership including Skanska have failed to make the final cut for the Nine Elms site.

The proposal for the 57 acres site includes building a fresh produce market on the site of the existing market in Vauxhall, on the south bank of the river Thames.

A new “linear park” will connect Vauxhall at one end and Battersea Power Station at the other, linking with the proposed US Embassy public plaza along the way.

The new market will be up to 550,000 sq ft and will be built and paid for by the chosen developer.

In return CGMA will offer the development rights for a massive mixed use scheme on around 20 acres of adjacent land.

The site will have the potential to generate a gross development value of £1bn from a high density, residential-led, mixed-use scheme including 2,300 new homes, commercial and retail space.

Drivers Jonas Deloitte, which is advising NCGM, will chose a final development partner  in July.