A report has admitted delays to the start of the Friarsgate redevelopment are “disappointing” – but Lichfield District Council says it still hopes to see work on the project begin this year.
The long-mooted regeneration of Lichfield city centre has gathered pace in the past year, with the announcement of a new operator for the proposed cinema and other businesses agreeing to take up units, while preliminary bore holes were drilled at the end of last year.
However, an item on the agenda of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee meeting on June 28 reveals that approval is being sought “to put back three milestone dates” in the Friarsgate Development Agreement – although details of the exact nature of these changes have been kept confidential by the council.
But a risk register report to a meeting of the local authority’s audit and member standards committee says work should still begin in 2017.
“The delay in the scheme is disappointing,” the report explains. “But there are signs that the funding market is becoming more stable, enabling a start on site in 2017.
“The extent of tenant interest in the scheme is extremely encouraging.”
Figures to be heard at the same meeting also reveal that the council had originally budgeted to spend more than £2.6million in connection with Friarsgate – but with work still to begin, had ended up spending less than 10% of that figure (£232,123).
