Whitby Old Town Hall Quotes are Too High

Monday, 2 September 2024 06:00

By Matthew Pells

Quotes to deliver a proposed renovation of Whitby's Old Town Hall have come in over budget.

The companies that tendered for the work are now being asked to resubmit new prices.

The proposal is for the Old Town Hall to be restored to become an art gallery, museum, public space, and retail area with increased facilities also set to be provided to market traders.

The plan includes the renovation of the first floor and attic rooms – which have not been occupied or used since 2017 – as an art gallery and studio for resident artists, whilst a kitchenette, heating, and a bathroom would also be added in addition to proposed window repairs.

The market square outside the Old Town Hall, which is still regularly used as an outdoor market, is also set to receive upgrades in the form of level paving and hand railings to improve accessibility.

The work is being funded through Whitby's Town Deal fund. The Town Deal Board received tenders for the work from a number of companies in June and was hoping to make a decision by the end of the month, but In an update to North Yorkshire Council's Executive committee this month officers reported that the Whitby Town Hall tenders are above budget and an addendum to the tender will be issued asking all tenderers to resubmit prices to "hopefully bring the preferred bidder within the budget available"

Meanwhile plans for a maritime training hub in the town have been amended to reduce the size of the building. Councillors were told:

"A Project Adjustment Request was submitted in late July to approve the changes in outputs as a result of the reduction in size and uses of the building.

This has a positive impact on the capital costs and currently still forecast to be delivered within budget. It has not yet been possible to secure operators of the building, but work is continuing to attempt to do so.

The business case, covering both the one-off capital and ongoing revenue elements, is in the process of being updated and will form part of a report to Executive in September that will also cover the potential approval to proceed with the scheme and award of the construction contract."