Builders face £800,000 bill over catalogue of errors on West Midlands Police cell blocks

Willmott Dixon was given a £20 million contract by West Midlands Police to build a central custody block in Perry Barr and a western cell block in Oldbury.

But furious police bosses say that the projects have been botched to such an extent that they will be applying 'a significant financial penalty' on the firm.

The 60-cell facility in Bromford Lane, Oldbury, should have opened in June and the suite in Holford Drive, Perry Barr, was due to open this month. Neither site will be ready until January at the earliest.

West Midlands Police director of resources David Wilkin said: "Both custody suites have been subjected to numerous delays and we now find ourselves in an incredibly unsatisfactory position.

"From the very start we have consistently identified where delays have been likely and brought them to the table. We have been proved right time and time again.

"There has been a catalogue of errors in relation to design and delivery. Willmott Dixon will be penalised through the application of charges, the scale of which will be in the order of £100,000.

"This is a significant financial penalty."

As part of Willmott Dixon's contract with West Midlands Police, the firm has to pay a penalty charge for every week that the project overruns.

Mr Wilkin took the unprecedented step of naming and shaming the company at a meeting of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's strategic policing and crime board.

He said confidence in Willmott Dixon to complete the job was 'incredibly low' and added that problems had started from the onset of the project when the firm produced two different designs for the same building.

"There were difficulties with the practical application for the designs of the western block," he added. "Designs were rejected and had to be re-worked."

The delay means staff that were due to start work at both sites have been re-deployed in other areas.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito said: "Willmott Dixon has made mistakes and it is correct that damages should be charged."

Willmott Dixon spokesman Andy Geldard said the delays were 'mainly down to supply chain issues'.

"We are working closely with the client to get both custody suites completed in due course," he added.