Work on new hospital halted as building firm hits trouble

WORK on the new state-of-the-art hospital in Berwick has stalled after contractors left the site amid financial difficulties for the construction company behind the project.

- JAMES ROBINSON

The front of the new hospital under construction in Berwick

North East firm Merit Construction filed for an administration notice last month and crews had left the Berwick site as of Friday lunchtime.

Speaking at Tuesday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's Health and Wellbeing scrutiny committee, bosses from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust admitted they would likely have to find a new contractor to complete the project.

Work had been expected to be completed in the coming months, but delays are now expected.

Damon Kent, managing director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said: "Our development partner Merit is in some financial difficulty. There is talk of them falling into administration.