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£95M Extra Needed for Manchester Town Hall Overhaul
10 Dec
Summary
- Manchester Town Hall refurbishment cost increases by £95 million.
- The total cost for the project is now estimated at £525 million.
- Completion of the refurbishment is now scheduled for spring 2027.
Councillors are set to approve an additional £95 million for the Manchester Town Hall refurbishment, pushing the total project cost to nearly £525 million. The iconic Grade-I listed Victorian building, which closed for extensive work in 2018, is now slated for completion in spring 2027. This latest funding request follows a previous commitment of £76 million last year.
Original estimates projected a £330 million cost with a 2024 reopening. However, factors including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and recent contractor bankruptcies have led to significant delays and cost overruns. Project leaders maintain that all public funds are being rigorously scrutinized.
Critics have decried the spiraling expenses as a 'scandal' and a 'disaster of project management,' expressing doubt that this will be the last financial appeal. The council's executive committee is expected to confirm the supplementary funding at their upcoming meeting.
