Huntingdonshire District Council has confirmed that despite aiming to get Market Square work in St Neots completed by Christmas, the project has been delayed.
The work, which was projected to last for 60 weeks, was due for completion in March 2025. However, at an early stage in the scheme, the council teased the possibility of the works being ready for Christmas.
Upgrade work began in January 2024 to make St Neots Market Square a "more attractive, versatile and vibrant public space".
However, the ambitious proposal of work coming to a close at Christmas was quashed after the discovery of an "unidentified cast iron service main" in the square grounds.
The removal of the cast iron main required manual excavation, rather than mechanical, which delayed the work. It also meant that the council's second completion goal of January 2025 was unachievable too.
To avoid further delays, Huntingdonshire District Council brought work on the High Street forward, which has prevented an additional 16 weeks of work on the project.
However, the council has since confirmed that the current predicted date for completion by Taylor Woodrow is April 2025, rather than March 2025.
Councillor Sam Wakeford, executive councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing, said: "The town centre improvements in St Neots are a major construction project covering the Market Square and High Street.
"Originally set to finish by March 31, 2025, the discovery of a cast iron service main caused some delays.
"However, efforts to reschedule and accelerate other work have kept the project largely on track, with completion now expected in April 2025.
"Significant progress has been made, with the north side of the Market Square now open, the High Street/New Street resurfacing complete, and the Huntingdon Street crossroads nearly finished."
Huntingdonshire District Council are due to discuss the Market Square delays at an Overview and Scrutiny Meeting on December 4.
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