Problems at Midland Metropolitan

1.12 Construction on the Midland Metropolitan project started in January 2016 and the hospital was originally expected to be operational by October 2018. But as early as February 2017, Carillion informed the Trust that delays in agreeing its subcontractor Aecom's design of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems - the detailed design that showed how the necessary electricity, IT, gas and water services would fit into the available space - would delay the programme by up to 23 weeks.

1.13 By May 2017, much of the structural frame had been completed but building systems, external and internal finishes were yet to be installed. Carillion informed the Trust that it had still not received the detailed mechanical, electrical and plumbing system design from its subcontractor Aecom and that it was now working towards a practical completion date of February 2019.

1.14 Carillion accepted the revised design in September 2017, when it also discussed a practical completion date of June 2019, 11 months later than originally planned.

1.15 Aecom told us that it disagreed with Carillion's account of the causes of delay. It said that Carillion's poor management caused the delays by appointing subcontractors and suppliers late, making multiple changes to the design and extending the scope of Aecom's work. Aecom continues to work on the project to finish the hospital.