Late redesigns leave Fulham Broadway unlikely to be ready for opening of 拢75m retail scheme above it.
The redevelopment of Fulham Broadway underground station may be delayed by up to four months because of design changes on the project's M&E contract.

The 拢75m retail element of the plan, built by Sir Robert McAlpine above the station, is due to open in the third week of October 鈥� but fears are growing that the station itself will not be ready in time.

M&E contractor Emcor is believed to have been delayed by design variations. An Emcor insider said the main problem was the complicated nature of the site. He said: "This has not been a good project for us 鈥� there have been a huge number of design variations and this has caused a lot of headaches."

Pillar Properties, the client for the retail scheme, has a long lease for the station from London Underground. A senior project insider confirmed that design issues were causing difficulties but said they were only part of the problem.

He would not be drawn on what the other snags were, and denied rumours that electricians walked off the site last week.

This has not been a good project for us 鈥� there have been a lot of headaches

Emcor insider

The insider added that even if the new station was not ready in time for the opening of the centre, a passenger service would still operate in some form.

Pillar Properties and Emcor refused to comment on the subject, and London Underground was not available for comment as 好色先生TV went to press.

Fulham Broadway station has a ticket hall built in 1910 and a station canopy dating from 1885. It is to be remodelled and a grade II-listed building is to be refurbished to create a restaurant. The retail scheme includes shops, restaurants, a cinema and a health club.