10th January 2022
Today The Lawyer have published their feature on the Top 20 Cases of 2022, highlighting key matters being played out in the courts this year. Featured was Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust v Lendlease Construction (Europe) and various third parties, which Head of Chambers, Sean Brannigan KC, and Jennie Gillies are counsel for the claimants: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is going face-to-face with contractor Lendlease over an emergency care hospital, deemed defective, which now faces demolition.
In 2012, international construction company Lendlease received the highly sought-after mandate to build the NHS’ first purpose-built specialist hospital that offered 24/7 emergency care. The multimillion-pound project formed part of the Trust’s £200m investment to improve health care for around 500,000 patients across North Tyneside and Northumberland.
Opened in 2015, the Cramlington cost £75m to build plus around £20m spent on road access and new medical equipment. However, severe structural issues have apparently since been identified in the building, including fire risks. Such defects, it is argued, will cost around £65m to fix, not least because of the temporary facilities required to treat patients while the building undergoes remedial works.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust now seeks nearly £100m in damages and compensation from Lendlease and other contractors.
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