Bath Spa to be ready by Easter

The £39m Bath Spa project, which is running over three years late and £20m over budget, could be open by Easter, according to Bath & North East Somerset (BANES) council today (Friday).

Following a site survey of the contract by Capita Symonds after Mowlem’s ejection as main contractor for the project last month, BANES said it now had a clearer idea of when the attraction would be open.

It is anticipated that work on the building, which is already being carried out by specialist subcontractors, will be finished by Christmas.

The remaining time will be used for filling and commissioning the pools and associated machinery, testing all electrical and mechanical installations and for the final Thermae Development Company fit out.

Banes’ projects director John Betty said: “Pool surround floors will have to come up, the screed taken out through the building and the underfloor heating and pipe work removed, as well as the original problems associated with the steam room floor. 

“We will literally have to start again in some areas. This was always by far the largest outstanding job and the biggest obstacle to completing the building.”

He also added that BANES would “rigorously pursue” the recovery of costs involved in finishing the building from those responsible.