Weymouth harbourside works face 3 month delay after main contractor goes bust
The work involves strengthening the walls around Weymouth Harbour
Last updated 18th Mar 2022
Weymouth harbourside works are likely to be delayed by at least three months after the main contractor, Midas, has collapsed.
Some of the project has been taken over by a sub-contractor, TMS, already working on the project but Dorset Council say they have started talks with another contractor to maintain the momentum of the works.
“When we learned Midas had gone into administration, we began discussions with another contractor and expect new project costings towards the end of May. This has pushed the project timeline back by around three months. At the moment we’re unsure if it will have any impact on costs,” said a council spokesman.
Typically building costs, across the industry, have risen by around 20 per cent in recent months in some sectors, more in others.
The overall project involves re-developing the Peninsula, where demolition work has already taken place, and work on strengthening the harbour walls as part of quayside ‘public realm’ improvements. This included Wall 9 which was being strengthened when Exeter-based Midas went into administration. That work is now being completed by the TMS company and is expected to be finished by the end of March.
One of the immediate changes will be a delay to work on Wall E which is now on hold until a new contract can be arranged. It had been planned that work would start on the wall immediately upon completion of the Wall 9 project.
Monitoring is continuing on two other walls on the Peninsula, F & G, after reports of some movement in the structures although, so far, this has not been considered significant. The council says it is seeking specialist help with the design of a replacement structure.
Other ongoing harbour projects includes the commissioning of a report which will model the risk of flooding in and around the harbour from all sources and the larger coastal and flood defence scheme for the town which was approved in principle last year and is now at the stage where a business case is being developed, something which is likely to take at least another year to complete. If final approvals are given by the council and funding is secured for the multi-million pound scheme construction work could start in the 2024-25 financial year.
Other ongoing works include improvement to the fish landing quay, storage areas and fuel and ice facilities which are now all being re-costed and will, inevitably be delayed.
The Midas collapse is believed to have left creditors being owed £22million and has resulted in 300 people being made redundant.
Midas chair Stephen Hindley has been quoted in the construction industry press as saying that the group had been brought down by the postponement or delay to contracts amid the COVID pandemic.”
Midas worked primarily in the residential, commercial and public sector building markets in the South West.