Luxury London resi scheme more than five months late

A £25m luxury residential scheme by developer Ballymore in north-west London is at least five months behind schedule, Building has learned.

Ballymore is in discussions with the main contractor on the scheme - Northern Irish builder O’Hare and McGovern - which could result in the firm being removed from the project due to the delays, according to market sources.

West Hampstead Square, which comprises 198 flats as well as a public square with shops and restaurants, was expected to complete by January this year but is still under construction. It is now expected to finish towards the end of 2016.

A source close to the scheme told Building Ballymore itself could take over O’Hare and McGovern’s role for the remainder of the project.

Discussions are understood to be ongoing.

Ballymore and O’Hare and McGovern declined to comment as Building went to press.

West Hampstead Square is thought to be one of only a handful of London jobs being constructed by O’Hare and McGovern.

The contractor has won several high-profile jobs in its native Northern Ireland, including the redevelopment of Windsor Park - home of the Northern Ireland football team - and a £20m deal for a new film studio in Belfast.

Ballymore’s high-profile schemes include Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms and the 3,000-home Royal Wharf resi scheme.