Plymouth’s vision to bring the buzz back to the Guildhall has moved a step closer to the start of an exciting project inside this landmark building.
A decision has been signed to provisionally award the contract to TEC Construction, subject to more value engineering and discussions around available budget.
The Guildhall requires significant improvements including refurbishment of toilets, redecoration, audio and visual improvements to key rooms including the main hall.
Last year planners granted planning and listed building consent for the upgrade to the Grade II listed building.
Changes have been proposed for the landmark to bring it up to date and ready for gigs, entertainment events, conferences, training, weddings and hot-desking. They include improved lighting, audio visuals and sound in the Great Hall and new modular staging.
The alterations have been designed to be sympathetic to the building’s character and interior which Historic England described as a ‘rare and unusually rich example’ of an unaltered `Festival of Britain' interior.
The prices received as part of the tender process were above the available funding, so detailed value engineering is needed, working with the selected contractor through workshops, design conversations and procurement discussions to enable the price to be reduced to an affordable sum that still delivers the scheme’s key outcomes.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Community, said: “Like many other projects, this important restoration project has seen costs go up, before contractors have even got in the building. There have been some delays while we make sure we get the best we can out of the funding that has been made available to us.
“We will be discussing every part of this project in detail and hope to be in a position to start very soon. In the meantime, I hope people enjoy the amazing results of the external repair and restoration project.”
The landmark building has been getting an external facelift to clean up and repair the effects of decades of pollution and our salty sea air, which has damaged stonework and detailing.
The work started at the end of last year and involves repairs to the stonework on all sides of the building. Cement used in earlier repairs has been replaced with a sympathetic lime render, allowing the building to breathe better.
Features and figures that are once more gleaming include the Portland Stone carvings at ground level. There are 12 flanking carved figures incorporated in the north aisle wall with the 13th being the ‘Coronation’.
The northern side – overlooking the car park is now complete and the front of the building is now scaffolded and boarded up for repairs, cleaning and waterproofing.