Renovation costs of troubled Stockton Globe rise again
The costs to renovate and reopen the Stockton Globe Theatre have risen again.
Its long-awaited comeback has also been delayed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Renovating the Globe will now cost an additional £1.2m, taking its total cost to £27.9m.
The opening date has been pegged back from November until next April.
Work has continued on the Art Deco site during the covid-19 outbreak - but officials have said having a much smaller team of workers on site has led to the setback.
Structural complications and access problems have dogged the Grade II Art Deco theatre renovation - with costs soaring in the past 18 months.
Troubles with the roof, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lifts, plumbing, toilet layout and drainage were all uncovered during the high street renovation.
Councillors agreed to pump in an extra £6.5m last year to pay for the extra work.
A report prepared for next week's cabinet meeting shows contractor Willmott Dixon had to reduce its workforce from more than 100 to 30 when the lockdown came.
A breakdown of the new £1.2m bill was also revealed - with an extra £817,000 to be paid to Willmott Dixon, £166,000 in "professional fees" and £200,000 set aside for "unforeseen works" during the delay period.
Cllr Nigel Cooke, Stockton Council's cabinet member for regeneration and housing, confirmed there had been a much smaller workforce on site due to social distancing - but "good progress" had been made.
He said: "The new roof is finished, the replica 1930s art deco windows are in, and the technical equipment needed to host the big names in entertainment is being built off-site.
"But as you'd expect, we haven't been able to make as much progress as planned.
Council bosses are relying on the theatre bringing an extra 200,000 visitors to Stockton town centre to offer an £18m boost to the borough's economy every year.
But there has been criticism about the slew of delays, extra costs and new problems which have arisen.
Mayor of Thornaby Cllr Steve Walmsley said he wasn't surprised by the rising price tag.
He said: "It's absolutely crazy isn't it?
"'I've got no problem with the theatre but I think someone has seen this council coming.
"Let's hear Stockton Council explain this to the taxpayers who've got covid-19 to deal with, have been off work, have been battered by all sorts of things and then see this."
Attempts at renovating the high street theatre have rumbled on since 2011.
Developers Jomast started work on a £4m restoration project with the council allocating £1m.
However, the scheme stalled and the local authority took over in 2016.
The cost of the revamp has steadily risen even since.
When it's finished, the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) will run the 3,000-seat theatre in a 25-year lease agreement with the council.
Stuart Beeby, from ATG, said "nothing had changed" and believed putting the opening back to April would be helpful in a number of ways.
He said: "It gives time for things to settle and time for venues and live shows to start operating again.
"We haven't stopped approaching acts - in fact, there are lots of tours that were due to take place this spring and autumn that are now looking to reschedule to next spring.
"We're looking to work that to our advantage and we've got many irons in the fire."
Mr Beeby added the Globe's flexibility would act in its favour - with different seating and standing configurations for different events.
He said: "All in all, we still see the Globe as a fantastic opportunity - it's a great venue in a great place, it's of key strategic importance to us.
"None of that has changed and our commitment to the Globe is unequivocal."
Meanwhile, officials say they're in talks with the Heritage Lottery Fund to try and find money to make up the extra £1.2m.