Plans to build 160 rooms to create a new red light district in Utrecht have been delayed after officials said they had concerns about the integrity of the outside investor who won the contract to build the brothels.

Mayor Jan van Zanen told RTV Untrecht that research into the investor, BeJa Accommodaties, had show ‘there is a very serious risk’ criminal offences will be committed within the new zone. He did not go into further detail.

It is also unclear why concerns have been raised about the Hoogeveen-based company six months after it was awarded the building contract.

The new red light district is being built to replace the old floating brothels which were closed down in 2013 because of human trafficking concerns.

A spokesman for BeJa told the broadcaster the decision to break the contract had come as a surprise. A second developer, a Zeist-based foundation known as Non Nobis, is now top of the list to land the contract, the AD said.

When completed, the new district will have 162 prostitution rooms and brothel managers will be able to run up to 32 rooms each.