Little Wonders managing director Ben Hurst said time was needed for the foundations to settle after extensive earth and drainage works were carried out earlier this year, and other projects had taken priority.
Final adjustments were now being made to the foundations, and construction would begin within the next two weeks, he said.
The 100-child facility would take about 22 weeks to complete, and it was hoped it would be operational by May next year.
It will be the second Little Wonders facility to be built in Dunedin.
Mr Hurst, a former Crusaders and Highlanders halfback, has established child-care centres in St Kilda, Oamaru, Cromwell, Timaru, Wellington and Auckland, and is due to open a second facility in Auckland in January.