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11
Aug 2021
Business planning contract awarded for £47m Harrogate Convention Centre upgrade
A business planning contract has been awarded for the redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre in another step forward for the potential £47 million project.
Trevor Watson, Harrogate Borough Council’s director of economy, environment and housing, approved the contract on Tuesday following a competitive tender process during which the council only received a single bid for the business planning works.
The value of the contract and the bidder are not yet known – and both will only be made public once papers have been signed by both parties.
A council spokesperson said:
The business planning works include the creation of a full business case, as well as assessments of the economic impacts of covid on the events industry.
It was estimated before the pandemic that the convention centre attracted more than 150,000 visitors a year with an annual economic impact of £35 million.
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However, covid has now raised questions over how the industry can bounce back to pre-pandemic levels and what risks this could mean for the £47 million redevelopment.
Final decision due next year
A final decision on the project will be made by councillors next year and the council has yet to put forward any funding proposals, although it has said the business case would play a key part in supporting bids for government cash.
Rebecca Micallef, economy and transport officer at the council, said in a report:
The convention centre was used as an NHS Nightingale hospital for almost a year.
In July last year, the council said the 40-year-old venue was in “critical need” of an upgrade to keep its national appeal and that without investment its maintenance costs could reach £19 million over the next two decades.
Before this week’s contract agreement, a separate £1m contract was awarded to design firm Arcadis in March and the company is currently drawing up design proposals.
Plans to rebuild the convention centre could involve three exhibition halls being demolished to make way for a new 5,000 sq m hall and a refurbished auditorium.
Around £20 million would be needed to complete a first phase of redevelopment, with another phase later.
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