ISG £20m over on Festival Hall work

Work on the Royal Festival Hall is running £20m over cost and six months late after structural problems and asbestos were found on site.

A spokeswoman for client South Bank Centre (SBC) confirmed that contractor ISG InteriorExterior will take up to six months longer to refurbish the building after problems were found in the original plans and estimates. The company started work on the £91m project earlier this month.

SBC said asbestos removal from the 54-year-old building set its reopening back from spring 2007 to June 2007.

She added work is £20m over budget from estimates made in 2003, and blamed asbestos removal, escalating construction costs in London and structural changes for the increase. She said the building required additional heritage work, which required higher specification materials and skilled labour.

ISG refused to comment on the extra work.