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06
Jul
Work starts on £9.4m Harrogate Convention Centre upgrade
Work has started on a multi-million pound plan to upgrade Harrogate Convention Centre.
The £9.4 million scheme overseen by North Yorkshire Council to create new larger breakout rooms in the venue’s Studio Two has started today (Monday, July 6).
It comes after the council revealed in March the cost for the project had soared from an estimated £7.1 million to £9.4 million.
The council said the project will help the convention centre “thrive in the extremely competitive conference market”.
The transformation of Studio Two, which will provide breakout conferencing facilities for about 1,200 delegates, is expected to generate more than £1.5 million annually by the 10th year.
Meanwhile, other smaller schemes are being carried out at the site including replacing outdated cooling systems and introducing new carpets and wooden frontages for interior walls.
Cllr Carl Les, leader of the council, said:
The Harrogate Convention Centre has been such an important asset to the region since it opened more than 40 years ago.
However, we recognise that the building needs to be modernised to make sure that it can continue to compete alongside its rivals in the conferencing sector.
The overhaul of Studio Two is at the heart of this programme to upgrade the convention centre, but there is also a whole package of other works which will make a real difference.
We are committed to making sure that the very best facilities possible are provided at the convention centre to help to boost the economy of not just Harrogate, but the whole of North Yorkshire as well.
Martin Mann, chief executive at Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:
The Harrogate Convention Centre has been part of the foundations of North Yorkshire's economy for more than 40 years.
The work that the council is undertaking at the centre is vital to ensuring its long-term future, and the commitment to the venue is very welcome.
Other works which have been carried out at the convention centre include a programme of energy improvements which has cut annual electricity bills by almost £150,000.
New controls have been introduced and key equipment upgraded to ensure systems only run when needed meaning that the site has significantly reduced its energy use and peak demand.
Hike in cost
The move comes as the council appointed Galliford Try to carry out the refurbishment project at the convention centre.
In March, the council revealed the cost to reconfigure studio two at the centre to create additional breakout space had soared from an estimated £7.1 million in December 2024 to £9.4 million.
Increasing breakout space is seen as key to attracting larger conferences and generating more income.
A "lid-off" architect's CGI of how Studio 2 will be reconfigured.
It comes as senior councillors previously defended the hike in cost of the convention centre project.
In March, Cllr Dadd said the upgrade to the centre is still “a positive business case” despite the £2.3 million increase in cost.
A council report before an executive meeting on March 17 said that the December 2024 estimate of £7.1 million was a “high level, desk-based estimate based on outline design information”.
Council officials then carried out a “pre-tender estimate” of £8.4 million, which followed a “year of inflation and detailed design development”.
The further rise to £9.4 million was attributed to the contract tender process, which the council's in-house property management company Align Property Services deemed to be at "market value rates”.
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