Costs connected with the refurbishment of Paisley Museum have spiralled by more than £1.8 million, a report has revealed.
The building, which is undergoing a major transformation into a “world-class attraction”, is expected to open next year.
Council chiefs have said the museum – set to be home to galleries, an observatory and a heritage centre – will be a “vibrant and accessible” cultural hub bringing visitors to the town from across Scotland and beyond.
But fees associated with the flagship £45m regeneration project are mounting, with councillors set to be updated on a series of increases to already approved consultancy contracts at Thursday’s finance board.
The most significant hike was for the multi-disciplinary design team, which rose from £2,598,349 to £4,164,804.
However, project management costs also went from £193,856.80 to £341,114 and those for a quantity surveyor from £258,000 to £375,082.31.
The changes represent a combined rise in excess of £1.83m, which will be covered by existing resources “earmarked for contingencies”.
A report, which will be considered by elected members, tried to explain some of the “key events” which have affected the project so far.
It cited the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in slowing the progress of the design, due to restrictions on travel, non-essential construction work and access to buildings.
Delays hit the anticipated completion of the main build programme – prolonging it from November 2022 to January 2024 – having been driven by “complexity of the works” and discoveries requiring changes to the design.
This also meant a prolonging of consultant appointments to cover services needed for the duration of the main build contract.
Additionally, a hold-up is expected in the completion of the exhibition fit out contract from this November to May 2024, which the report added was “linked” to the delay in the main build programme.
The council believes the overall project can deliver around 125,000 visitors a year and a £79m boost for the economy over three decades.
It hopes the facility, dubbed “the jewel in our cultural crown”, will improve town centre footfall and put Paisley’s story on a Scottish, UK and international stage.
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