Main contractor Galliford Try has taken back control of the water system at the Worthing Integrated Care Centre (WICC) in a bid to resolve issues preventing the building opening.

Construction work was completed last December but a number of subsequent issues – including the presence of legionella bacteria in the water supply – meant the £45m project couldn’t be occupied.

In an update today Adur & Worthing Councils said: “Galliford Try is contractually responsible for the design, construction and compliance of the water system at the WICC. The problems with that system have been complex and the contractor has accepted the system back into its control to sort out.

“The company has installed a new, larger water pump in the building which it hopes will resolve the issues.

“However the council is clear that it won’t accept the water system back until it is demonstrably fully safe and functional, so the NHS partners can move in and patients can be seen there.”

The project budget has increased from the original £34m to £45m currently.

Councillor Sophie Cox, the leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “We understand how frustrating the delays are for everyone involved in this project – the NHS, the GP surgeries relocating and patients as well as the wider public.

“I can assure everyone that we are extremely frustrated too by these continued delays, but it’s vital all these safety issues are fixed before the building opens to the public.

“As a council for the community, we’re committed to being open and transparent about projects and can assure residents that a lot of work is going on in the background daily to get this project resolved and the building open. We’ll continue to give updates when we have more information to share.”