More than £14 million is being spent by Sutton Council to get a Hackbridge Primary School project completed after the contractor it sacked entered administration.

A report, detailing its decision to hire Willmott Dixon to complete the works, lays bare the problems which have plagued the project after Lakehouse first began the work in 2017.

They were hired to deliver additional school buildings on the site in Hackbridge Road, which would admit 120 extra reception pupils by September this year.

The council claims the first six months of the initial deal were “trouble-free” before subcontractors apparently started to leave the site without giving any warnings.

Despite “assurances” work would continue, the project never got back on track and, by the end of last year, the situation was becoming “increasingly worse”.

After being served with a warning notice before Christmas 2018, Lakehouse allegedly promised work would resume on January 5 – but that reportedly never happened.

They were then sacked at the end of January before the council agreed a new £5.4 million deal with Willmott Dixon, who had already impressed them with their work on the New Sutton Secondary School.

The report, which states the decision was ratified on May 10, shows the estimated revised total cost of the project has ballooned to £14.4 million.

This includes both the sum for Willmott Dixon to complete the works and other identified costs, including professional and legal fees as well as internal project management costs like security.

And while work resumes on the expansion project at Hackbridge Primary School, the council has vowed to “vigorously pursue” claims against both Lakehouse, now trading as Sureserve, and the Bondsman.

The report also shows that, after an £8.9 million deal with Lakehouse was agreed, the projected final sum of the contract rose to £9.6 million.

It comes as the council accused Lakehouse of “poor performance”, alleged delays and issues around paying its subcontractors on time.

After the deal was terminated Lakehouse entered administration, with it having applied to the High Court for an administration order according to the Construction Enquirer.