A leading mental health trust has begun legal proceedings against a major contractor after serious leaks disrupted the opening of two landmark NHS facilities.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) has formally exchanged legal letters with Integrated Health Projects (IHP) , a joint venture between Sir Robert McAlpine and Vinci, following water damage across its £103 million redevelopment.

Leaks from toilet and shower fittings in both buildings caused significant structural moisture issues, delaying patient transfers and resulting in a reported £6 million in additional costs. Floor-by-floor testing and structural drying work are ongoing and may continue into early 2026, with timelines still uncertain.

The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People was originally due to open in June 2023, while the New Douglas Bennett House, an eight-ward adult inpatient facility, was scheduled for October 2022. The trust remains hopeful of opening the young people’s centre later this year, but New Douglas Bennett House is unlikely to take patients before February next year.

The delays have had a broader impact on SLaM’s estates strategy. The trust had planned to shut and sell Lambeth Hospital after transferring services, but the continued occupancy is now holding up redevelopment and incurring extra operating costs.

The trust says it is receiving daily legal advice to assign liability for the damage. IHP has claimed the trust contributed to the leak issues, but this is being firmly disputed. A spokesperson for the trust confirmed it will enforce its contractual rights and require the contractor to remedy any defects it is responsible for.

IHP was appointed under NHS England’s Procure 21 framework and is now listed on the successor framework, Procure 23, managed by Crown Commercial Solutions. The firm continues to deliver NHS infrastructure projects across the country.