27/08/2026
14 contractors looked at finishing Ardmore's job. Most walked away from the risk.
Update on a story we posted about back in June, Ardmore Construction Group's collapse.
Hackney Council has now confirmed Wates will take over completing the £200m Britannia housing scheme in Shoreditch, 371 homes across four towers. Ardmore was appointed in 2023 and was around six months from finishing when it went into administration on 11 June.
The council approached 14 contractors about picking up the job. Most weren't willing to take on the risk of partially completed work. When nobody wanted that risk, the council just went straight to Wates instead, no competition, just picked them and got them on site. They're now working through what's actually been built, checking for defects, assessing damage, and renegotiating with Ardmore's old supply chain from scratch.
This is the bit that doesn't get much attention when a contractor goes down. It's not just the main job that stalls, every sub on site is left mid-programme, chasing payment, and waiting to find out if they're even wanted back once someone new takes over.
Completion's now pushed from November 2026 to late summer 2027, and the final cost will be higher than the original budget because of it.
Anyone here been on a job that changed hands like this? What actually happens to your position on site when it does?
Source: Construction Enquirer