Senior figures welcome out-of-court settlement between Multiplex and WNSL, but fear for the damage already done to the reputation of the UK construction industry
Industry figures this week welcomed news of an out-of-court settlement between Wembley National Stadium Limited and Multiplex, describing the dispute as an 鈥渁ppalling saga鈥� that had caused huge damage to the sector鈥檚 reputation.
WNSL, the stadium鈥檚 client, and the FA, its owner, agreed at the end of last week to pay Multiplex an additional sum of 拢36m to complete the project in time for next year鈥檚 FA Cup final. The deal, which involves a 拢70m payment from WNSL offset by a 拢34m late penalty fine, is intended to draw a line under all remaining disputes on the project. The client and contractor will now work alongside each other to complete the stadium.
Senior industry representatives have welcomed the deal, saying the dispute was hurting the industry鈥檚 reputation.
Stephen Ratcliffe, chief executive of the Construction Confederation, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously a relief that the problems seem to have been sorted out at last. The sad thing is the damage done to the perception of the industry as a whole. It really is an own goal.鈥�
Ratcliffe鈥檚 view was echoed by John Spanswick,