A £25m luxury residential scheme by developer Ballymore in north-west London

A £25m luxury residential scheme by developer Ballymore in north-west London is at least five months behind schedule, ΢Ȧ has learned.

Ballymore is in discussions with the main contractor on the scheme - Northern Irish builder O’Hare and McGovern - which could result in the firm being removed from the project due to the delays, according to market sources.

West Hampstead Square, which comprises 198 flats as well as a public square with shops and restaurants, was expected to complete by January this year but is still under construction. It is now expected to finish towards the end of 2016.

A source close to the scheme told ΢Ȧ Ballymore itself could take over O’Hare and McGovern’s role for the remainder of the project.

Discussions are understood to be ongoing.

Ballymore and O’Hare and McGovern declined to comment as ΢Ȧ went to press.

West Hampstead Square is thought to be one of only a handful of London jobs being constructed by O’Hare and McGovern.

The contractor has won several high-profile jobs in its native Northern Ireland, including the redevelopment of Windsor Park - home of the Northern Ireland football team - and a £20m deal for a new film studio in Belfast.

Ballymore’s high-profile schemes include Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms and the 3,000-home Royal Wharf resi scheme.