ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV

An extra M&E contractor has been brought on to carry out key electrical work on Wembley stadium in an attempt to speed up delivery.

ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV understands that some of the work contracted to electrical firms Phoenix and Honeywell will be undertaken by Bristol contractor TB Worrall. Worrall had been involved with smaller scale M&E work but will now handle the main electrical fit-out on the fifth floor of the stadium.

The decision to bring in another firm to handle parts of the contract was made after meetings between Multiplex and specialists to reschedule the project's final stages.

Multiplex is hoping to minimise the financial penalties it will face for late handover to client Wembley National Stadium Ltd. These are estimated at £120,000 a day.

It is understood that TB Worrall is working under Phoenix and Honeywell management on the majority of the fifth floor work, but it is also thought to be undertaking some work directly for Multiplex.

Extra time: Penalties for late handover are estimated at £120,000 a day

The move comes after delays and cost overruns have put pressure on Phoenix. Earlier this year it emerged that Multiplex had made a number of contractual concessions to help the firm cope with rising costs.

Phoenix and its labour agency BMS have made about 100 workers redundant since Multiplex confirmed that the stadium would not be completed for the FA Cup Final on 13 May.

It is understood that further redundancies are planned for the end of the month. Sources on the site report that, at the same time, Worrall has been increasing its workforce.

Phoenix is one of a number of specialist contractors that have been put under increasing financial pressure as the project reaches its final stages.

A Multiplex spokesperson said: "Our key contracts remain with Phoenix and Honeywell, but Worrall is undertaking work on the fifth floor."

Fire alarm specialist AR Security was forced to quit the project in January after payment difficulties. Plumbing contractor SGD went into administration in November, blaming cost overruns and a lack of compensation from Multiplex.

Meanwhile, Multiplex announced this week that it had reached a key milestone on its White City project. The contractor has completed the structure of London Underground sidings in an enclosed box structure which is designed to allow development to continue above it.