Mace's Corrie job hit with delays

Mace’s high profile construction of ITV’s new Coronation Street studios has been hit with delays after problems arose on part of the steel frame on the project.

Construction manager Mace has confirmed a problem with the steel frame on part of the new Coronation Street studios building in MediaCity, Manchester, has been identified.

According to three separate sources the steel frame began to move significantly and beyond its design tolerances while concrete was being poured on the site in late May. Work was halted on the part of the site affected and the areas was cordoned off while the structure was assessed.

It is understood that the problems could lead to several months delay on the job, understood to be worth around £30m, which was originally set for completion in Spring 2013. It is understood that the project will not now be completed until near the end of 2013.

“Production activity will then migrate at a time that makes the most sense, in terms of filming schedules,” a source close to the project said.

Mace confirmed that work is now in progress to identify “the most appropriate strategy to remediate the steel frames of the partially built stage areas of the Coronation Street production facility”.

In a statement the firm said this work was being done with the “full involvement” of structural engineer Capita Symonds and the steel frame subcontractor William Hare.

“Mace confirms that the site is safe and operates under all relevant HSE legislation. Works to the main support building, the Coronation Street lot and all other areas of the site are continuing,” the firm said.

Mace would not comment on the length of the delay to the project.

The new ITV studios are being built on a 7.7 acre site at Trafford Wharf, adjacent to the Imperial War Museum North. The project includes a new external film set for Coronation Street, as well as two sound stage buildings, specialist production facilities and offices as well as dressing rooms and meeting space for production staff and cast.

In a statement ITV confirmed that Mace was “managing a construction issue on the new Coronation Street site, which has resulted in a slight delay to the build”.

ITV said it was still on track to begin its staged move from its current central Manchester base into the new office buildings at MediaCity in the autumn.

Capita Symonds and William Hare referred enquiries to Mace.