Manchester City Council has announced they have settled out of court over the design and construction problems of the sculpture B of the Bang, which is situated at Sportcity in east Manchester.

The settlement has been reached with Thomas Heatherwick Studio Limited and their subcontractors Packman Lucas Limited, Flint and Neill Partnership and Westbury Structures Limited.

A settlement figure of £1.7 million has been paid to Manchester City Council. As a result of the settlement agreement court proceedings, scheduled to take place later this month, will no longer go ahead.

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Susan Orrell, City Solicitor from Manchester City Council said: "The settlement allows the Council to recover substantial damages and avoid further cost and the risks that are always associated with legal proceedings. I am pleased we have reached a settlement that is, in my view, in the best interests of the Council and now that this has been achieved, it means the Council can move on and consider the options for the future of the structure in conjunction with the project's funders. When this work is completed a report will go to the Council's Executive in the New Year."

The defendants, Thomas Heatherwick Studio Limited and their subcontractors Packman Lucas Limited, Flint and Neill Partnership and Westbury Structures Limited added: "The B of the Bang sculpture was an ambitious and ground-breaking design. It is a matter of considerable regret to all of us that the sculpture that was intended to symbolise the outstanding success of the Manchester Commonwealth Games has suffered the problems that have come to light. We are pleased that a settlement has been reached to the proceedings."

(CD/JM)