Liverpool’s new Royal Hospital is facing £100 million worth of structural repairs.
Work restarted on the construction of the city’s new flagship hospital in November last year following a lengthy delay caused by the collapse of Carillion.
But Laing O’Rourke, who have taken over from the failed construction giant, have revealed that their predecessor have added further cost and delays to the project.
Surveyors assessing the existing structure uncovered cracked concrete posts and cladding on the hospital’s exterior which would not meet fire safety regulations.
The structural issues have been confined largely to three of the building’s 13 floors but will require significant concrete and steelwork to shore it up.
Andy Thomson, project director at Laing O’Rourke, said: “Fixing the structural issues is a complex programme of work, with the added challenge of protecting the existing hi-tech fixtures and fittings in the hospital.
“This requires heating the building and maintaining water flow to prevent deterioration, which would lead to costly replacements if it was not diligently carried out.”
Hospital bosses remain hopeful that the 646-bed hospital, originally due to open in March 2017, will be ready for patients by the end of 2020 at the latest.