Balfour Beatty made two requests for more money

Olympic Stadium / West Ham

Balfour Beatty received an extra 拢69m due to escalting cost during their work on the Olympic Statdium, a new report has found.

The report, which was commissioned by the Greater London Authority, has revealed the contractor twice requested more money from the London Legacy Development Committee (LLDC) during the project.

The first demand came in 2014 when issues arose around the costs of altering the stadium鈥檚 roof in time for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with the second occuring in 2016.

The two settlements, together with other agreed changes, brought the total payable to Balfour Beatty to 拢223.13m, almost 45% more than the initial estimate of 拢154m.

The report states 鈥渢here was an early realisation that the capital costs would exceed the original budget, i.e. it was underestimated鈥.

As the contractor believed the LLDC to be contractually responsible for the escalated costs in changing the roof, Balfour Beatty placed a claim for 拢203.7m, which was 拢50m more than the original estimate.

Based on the potential financial issues, as well as the potentil damage to the Legacy鈥檚 reputation if events were cancelled,  E20 and LLDC pursued a compensation agreement of 拢190m.The settlement agreed was at 拢189.9m.

The second dispute arose in April 2016, when Balfour Beatty served a 拢19m claim for delay and disruption and temporarily suspended work on the site.

The claim for delay and disruption arose from three main issues, including the impact of Alto鈥檚 liquidation, which led to the delayed removal of retractable seating from the field of play.

LLDC, supported by Mace, considered the reasonableness of the costs associated with the Balfour Beatty claim; LLDC and Mace estimated costs at 拢4.5m. The groups reached a 拢12.25m settlement for the second dispute.

In response to the report, Balfour Beatty said in a statement: 鈥淏alfour Beatty successfully completed the complex transformation of the iconic former London Olympic stadium into a multi-functional world class sporting venue in 2016.

鈥淐reating over 1,700 job opportunities at peak, works included installing the world鈥檚 largest cantilever roof, halo turnstiles, concession stands and more. All work completed was agreed and delivered with the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) with additional costs mutually agreed as a result of additional scopes of work.鈥