Mowlem’s Bath Spa offer doubted

The chances of Bath & North East Somerset Council (BANES) accepting Mowlem’s £26m offer to complete the Bath Spa project seem to be shrinking after the council questioned its value for money.

Two weeks ago Mowlem offered to deliver the contract within six months and take the brunt of any costs as a design and build contractor (CJ 9 February).

However, it appears that BANES is not keen on the proposal. Mowlem has been paid £14.5m, but BANES is not keen to pay a further £11.5m to get the project completed.

Councillor Nicole O’Flaherty said: “People say ‘pay the money, let it do it’. But we would have to be sure as we are talking about nearly £12m to finish it.”

Mowlem brushed aside the response with one source remarking: “It might be worth asking the council how much it thinks it could do the work for.”