Bath Spa to open next week

Bath Spa is due to open next week after Capita Symonds was called in 15 months ago to rescue the troubled project. Client Bath and Northeast Somerset Council is understood to have recently voted to earmark a further £2.5m for scheme. This brings the final bill for the project to £45m, up from the original budget of £13m.

The spa was a Millennium project originally due for completion in 2002. The council has had disputes with both architect Grimshaw and contractor Mowlem, now Carillion, over delays and problems with the working of the facility, including leaks.

Capita Symonds was appointed as project manager in April 2005 to organise a programme of work needed to remedy the technical problems that have dogged the spa. At that time the expected opening date for the facility was put at Easter 2006. Bath Spa is now set to open on 7 August.