Problems include asbestos, obstructions in the ground and 鈥榩erformance issues鈥� with structural engineer
A 拢16m scheme to extend a secondary school and neighbouring leisure centre in east London is running months behind schedule because of a string of problems on the job, the council behind it has admitted.
In a letter to local MP John Cryer, sent last month, Redbridge council鈥檚 operational director of education Colin Stewart said the job to expand both Wanstead High School and Wanstead leisure centre is now not expected to finish until next autumn.
Stewart told Cryer main construction work, which includes building a new block with four classrooms for the school and a 25m swimming pool and dance studios for the leisure centre, was already running five months behind schedule after extra enabling works were required to build a new school playground.
But Stewart admitted 鈥渇urther delays鈥� were then caused by the discovery of asbestos, major obstructions in the ground, which held up piling work, and 鈥減erformance issues with the structural engineer, resulting in the termination of one consultant and appointment of another鈥�.
The job is being carried out by Shoreditch-based contractor Jerram Falkus who was brought in to replace original contractor Willmott Dixon four year ago.
But a council spokesperson said: 鈥淸While] there have been a number of unforeseen technical reasons for delays in delivery of the project, the change of main contractors in 2020 was not the main factor here.鈥�
In his letter to Cryer, Stewart said 鈥渢he contractors are reporting a completion date of late summer/autumn 2025鈥�.
He added: 鈥淚 understand the concerns of your constituents and want to assure you that the programme has been streamlined with works sequenced as efficiently as possible.
鈥淲e look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with all local stakeholders to minimise any possible disruption and move the project forward.鈥�
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