{"id":518050,"date":"2025-04-04T12:45:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T11:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=518050"},"modified":"2025-04-17T16:10:26","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T15:10:26","slug":"bam-pulls-out-of-671m-belfast-hospital-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/contracts\/bam-pulls-out-of-671m-belfast-hospital-project-04-04-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Bam pulls out of \u00a3671m Belfast hospital project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bam has backed out of a project to build a new \u00a3671m children\u2019s hospital in Belfast just weeks after it was named as one of the contractors. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The firm was due to develop the Royal Victoria Hospital as part of its ongoing joint venture with Northern Ireland-based Graham Construction<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, a Bam spokesperson confirmed to Construction News<\/em> it had taken a \u201ccommercial decision\u201d not to proceed with the scheme.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGraham will now go ahead with the customer, and Bam\u2019s decision will not impact on the delivery of the hospital,\u201d the spokesperson added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Philip McClay, a director at Northern Ireland\u2019s Department of Health, reportedly told a committee on Thursday<\/a> (3 April) that Bam \u201cwithdrew at a late stage in the discussions\u201d and its withdrawal was by \u201camicable agreement\u201d.<\/p>\n

CN<\/em> understands that Bam did not sign any contracts for the project with Graham or client the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE), and work on the five-year build has just commenced.<\/p>\n

\u201cAhead of the formal signing of contract, Bam made the decision to withdraw from its partnership with Graham,\u201d the NIE told CN<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGraham provided assurances to Belfast Trust and the department that Bam\u2019s decision would not materially alter its ability to deliver the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith these assurances in place, the contract was signed and construction work has begun as planned.
\nBam\u2019s reasons for exiting the partnership are a matter for them and it would not be appropriate for us to make any comment about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposed 10-storey hospital has been hit by numerous delays since the scheme was first unveiled in 2013. Initial costs were put at \u00a3250m, but have since ballooned.<\/p>\n

The construction works are now valued at \u00a3389m, while the overall development cost is \u00a3671m.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The new 52,000 square metre hospital is due to cater for up to 45,000 children annually with 155 beds, 10 theatres and an emergency department.<\/p>\n

The joint venture between Graham and Bam (GBHP) is behind a string of other major healthcare projects in Belfast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The firms completed the new Belfast Maternity Hospital last April, but it is yet to open. Costs\u00a0 spiralled from \u00a357m to \u00a397m after delays partly due to dangerous bacteria found in its its water pipes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GBHP also delivered a \u00a395m acutes services block<\/a> and \u00a386m ward<\/a> at Ulster Hospital, as well as a \u00a333m mental health inpatient facility<\/a>\u00a0at Belfast City Hospital. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bam has backed out of a project to build a new \u00a3671m children\u2019s hospital in Belfast just weeks after it was named as one of the contractors. \u00a0 The firm was due to develop the Royal Victoria Hospital as part of its ongoing joint venture with Northern Ireland-based Graham Construction.\u00a0 However, a Bam spokesperson confirmed …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29901,"featured_media":501371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[558],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n