Extra £76m pumped into over-budget project to restore Manchester Town Hall

Councillors in Manchester have given the thumbs up to pump a further £76m into the restoration of the Town Hall, which has gone over budget.

The extra cash, funded through borrowing, was given final approval at a full council meeting on November 27, and saw the total cost of the project climb to nearly £430m, up from £350m.

Having opened in 1877, the grade I-listed Town Hall closed in 2018 for the refurbishment which was expected to finish this year, but the project has been delayed and will not be done until July 2026. But the council said more of the building will be revealed from behind its scaffolding in the next few months as some work on the outside of the building finishes.

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Albert Square is planned to reopen in stages in 2025, marking the beginning of the end of one of the ‘the largest and most complex heritage projects’ in the country.

The council said ‘unprecedented’ events beyond its control in the past few years were the reason behind the growing cost and delays, as well as challenges during the restoration work such as nesting falcons, inflation, and the pandemic.

Another update on the work is expected to be shared in spring 2025.

Deputy council leader Garry Bridges said in October: “This is a once-in-a-century undertaking which will benefit the city for many decades to come. The end result will be worth the wait.

“We will give this iconic building and Albert Square back to the people of Manchester not just in the best shape since they were created but more welcoming and more accessible so everyone can enjoy and share in their history and heritage for generations to come.”