Ipswich Museum revamp costs rise by another £250,000

This is the result of an increase in estimated costs from suppliers and the inclusion of digital elements to the project would require a separate contract to be handed out.

This comes after Ipswich Borough Council announced it was £2.7m over budget last February.

The council also received a £200,000 grant from the Clore Duffield Foundation and a £376,850 grant from Arts Council England. 

The total costs of the project will now be £11,866,418, of which the additional £273,685 will be decided by the council's executive committee next Tuesday. 

Council leader Neil MacDonald called this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (Image: KC MAN) Council leader Neil MacDonald said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the museum. 

"While it is more money, it still comes within the budget for the museum. 

"The gallery fit-out and the digital spaces would have been a separate contract, which is why it is asked for more than the estimated cost to be used. 

"However, this is an opportunity that would not come for another fifty years, so we have to ensure that the museum gets everything that it needs to be a great venue."

Carole Jones will be presenting this increase to the council next Tuesday  (Image: Charlotte Bond) The redevelopment of the museum, which opened in its current location in High Street in 1881, was initially expected to cost £8.7m.

The museum closed in October 2022 for the two-year development, which aims to create an immersive and educational experience for visitors.

The delivery phase of the project has progressed in accordance with timelines in the programme.

While the project's cost has risen once again, the council believes that these are "affordable within the overall project budget."

The council say that the increase is affordable (Image: Charlotte Bond) A pre-meeting report said: "The cost estimate is higher than the estimate provided to the executive in February 2024.

"The reasons for the increase in the cost estimate are as a result of increases in the estimated costs from suppliers and from the inclusion of the digital elements of the project which were previously envisaged being awarded as a separate contract but are now included in this contract.  

"Although the cost estimate results in a higher than previously expected cost for the gallery fit-out and interpretation works, this cost is still affordable within the constraints of the overall budget and will not require any additional funding for the project."