Tier one contractor Kier has said it expects to complete construction of Scotland’s first medium-secure children’s mental health unit “in the coming months”, after defects caused a three-year delay to the scheme.
Work on the £18.7m Foxgrove facility on the Ayrshire Central Hospital campus in Irvine began in 2021.
The Kier job, for client NHS Ayrshire & Arran on behalf of the Scottish Government, was due to finish in 2023.
However, delays ensued after defects were discovered.
In its latest project update, the Scottish Government said Foxglove’s handover had been delayed “due to a significant number of quality and health and safety items” and it expected costs to have risen.
Caroline Cameron, director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, told Construction News that the “ongoing construction delays” had resulted in the projected opening date moving over time.
“The contractor continues to address a number of outstanding defects within the building, all of which must be resolved before the facility can be handed over to the board,” she said.
“NHS Ayrshire & Arran is continuing to work closely with the contractor to ensure that the building meets the high standards of quality, safety and specification required.
“Due to the commercial sensitivity of these matters, and the secure nature of the Foxgrove facility, we are unable to provide further detail on the specific defects identified. However, we can provide assurance that all necessary works will be completed and fully resolved prior to handover.”
Kier told CN the issues were being addressed and the complex was due to open soon.
“We are currently finishing some alterations and enhancements to the original building and the project is scheduled to complete in the coming months,” a spokesperson for the firm said.
“We are continuing to work in partnership with the local health board to ensure the completion of this important national facility.”
However, Cameron said no date had yet been set.
“Until the building has been completed to the required standard and specification, NHS Ayrshire & Arran will not accept handover of the facility,” she said.
“At this stage, it is not possible to confirm a handover date.”
In the government’s progress report, it says there will be an eight-week testing and commissioning period as well as an “additional works programme to address issues not covered under the Principal Supply Chain Partner contract”.
“Additional costs are being incurred due to prolongation and programme delay and these will be confirmed once all works are completed,” it said.
Last week, NHS Ayrshire & Arran lost its appeal against HMRC over paying tax on some of the construction materials that have been used in the build.
Other health projects in Scotland have also encountered issues during the construction stage. A Graham job to build both the Baird Family Hospital and the Anchor Cancer Centre in Aberdeen saw costs jump from £134m to £438.6m following “numerous” challenges, including water and ventilation problems.
Graham was originally awarded the contract in 2016, with completion due in 2020.
The Anchor centre is now expected to open in December, having previously been scheduled to open in July.