Plymouth Guildhall refurb delayed

Council puts end to contractor problems speculation

Work on Plymouth Guildhall has stalled because of newly discovered structural problems not contractual ones, the city council has confirmed.

The £4.5 million refurbishment on the Grade II listed building was due to be complete this summer but was held up because of a large void found in the Great Hall during new ducting and wiring installation, posing a fire risk.

Since then other structural problems have been found which were not part of scheduled works.

Bookings for the Guildhall have had to be postponed or moved to other venues.

Cabinet member for housing, cooperative development and communities Cllr Chris Penberthy (Lab, St Peter and the Waterfront) told a full council meeting on Monday he wanted to end the speculation that the delay on the Guildhall scheme was down to contractors or contractual issues.

He said the void which stretched from the foundations to the apex of the building was found after the walls and panelling in the Great Hall were removed for the first time since construction in the 1950s.

It was “effectively a chimney and route for fire to spread,” he said.

“We need to make sure our Guildhall is structurally sound and meets current building fire and health and safety standards – we have found that is not currently the case,” he said,

Funding for the internal renovations is being reviewed. Cllr Penberthy said other surveys were being carried out to have a clear understanding of future works needed and how it could be done cost effectively.

“We want to have a Guildhall fit for purpose for another 70 years,” he said.

The refurbished building was planned to host conference and events programme for Plymouth University but this is no longer the case

Built in the 1870s, the Guildhall was reduced to a shell after bombing during World War Two in 1941. It was reopened in 1559 after being “saved “ by the council and its listing reflects the original shell and 1950s insert making it two old buildings in one.

The councillor said there were no detailed drawings of the post war works which “could lead to all sorts of unknowns being discovered once you start”.

He told councillors there would be an update in the new year.

Work on the Guildhall including updating the two bars and the Great Hall stage and kitchen and increasing the number of toilets began last September.

The council hopes to stage gigs, training and weddings there in the future.

The project was granted  £3.9million from the Government’s Future High Street Fund but the council approved a top of £490 million in November to replace electrical systems and alarms and refurbish the passenger lifts to comply with building standards.

Some of the council’s recent public realm and improvement works including city centre enhancements and the Central Ponds project were delayed due to contractor issues and other factors.