Councillors in Manchester have approved an extra £76 million in funding for the restoration work at Manchester Town Hall
It means the total cost for the restoration of the building has climbed to nearly £430m, up from £350m.
The project was originally expected to be completed in July 2024, but the renovation could now take until summer 2026
The project has been hit by the combined disruptive impacts of major external events such as the global Covid pandemic, hyperinflation in the construction industry and the war in Ukraine.
Work to repair and restore the building’s enormous roof has uncovered more than 120 separate issues which have required extra work and in many cases design solutions – from instances of rotten timbers being found to changes being required to original detailing which was letting in rainwater.
There have been 50 instances where the stonework was found to be in worse condition than originally anticipated and in need of repair.
It is expected that over the coming months more of Manchester Town Hall will emerge from behind the scaffolding as further external works conclude, gradually restoring views of the iconic building as internal works are completed.
