The bill for short term improvements to land left empty by the failed Friarsgate scheme is set to rise by £185,000.
Councillors are being asked to approve a plan to set aside almost £800,000 to carry out work on the rebranded Birmingham Road Site – up from the original budget of £624,000.
Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet will hear about plans to award Coleman & Company a £599,991 contract to demolish the former police station, bus station kids and toilets, as well as remodelling the area to create additional parking.
As well as the demolition works, the council is also expected to rubber stamp a three-year contract worth £90,000 to Healthmatic to provide and maintain temporary toilets to replace those being knocked down in the bus station.
The report from Cllr Iain Eadie, Cabinet member for Investment, Environment & Tourism Development Services, said: “The report recommends that the Cabinet recommends to council to increase the project budget for the Birmingham Road Site by £185,000 from £2,995,000 to £3,180,000.”
The additional funding would see £182,000 taken from reserves with the additional money coming from the revenue budget.
Cllr Eadie’s report added: “Members will be aware of the decision of the district council not to fund the Friarsgate scheme and the consequent demise of that project in 2018.
“Since then the council has been determined to bring forward alternative proposals for the Birmingham Road Site.
“Members will be aware of the recent decision to appoint David Lock Associates to prepare a city centre masterplan which will include the preparation of longer term proposals for the Birmingham Road Site.
“At the same time as wishing to bring forward plans for the longer term use, the council has also recognised a need to address issues pertaining to the land which it acquired as part of the former Friarsgate project.
“The preferred tender has come in approximately £60,000 over the approved budget of £540,000, and replacement toilets £6,000 over the agreed budget of £84,000.
“Outside the previously agreed budgets, new and additional costs would include a contingency, payment of business rates while the police station remains in situ and improvements to the hoardings equating to £119,000.”
