Coalville councillors were told this week that the cost of a scheme to redevelop Marlborough Square has risen by almost £100,000 to just over £2.8million.

But they were recommended to permit the money to be found from the Coalville Regeneration Framework budget.

This follows yet more hold-ups for plans which were first drawn up in 2018 - due to the complexity and detail involved in the project.

uesday's meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council's Cabinet heard from leader, Cllr Richard Blunt, that delays in awarding the construction contract for Marlborough Square, following complications with securing the necessary Highways Agreement, has resulted in a higher than expected total cost.

The scheme is now projected to cost £2,843,982 - as compared to £2,711,500 when the scheme was approved by the council's Cabinet in February, 2022.

You can see the plans for the Marlborough Square scheme from last year HERE.

A report to be presented to councillors said: "This has led to a situation whereby the contractor has stipulated a need to revise their price. 

"As a result of the recently completed re-pricing exercise, it has been identified that the cost to complete the project will be in the order of £2,843,982. 

"The cost of delivering the scheme is now estimated to be £99,288 more than approved Cabinet on 15 February 2022. If the project is to proceed, the Council's capital investment will need to be increased by this amount. 

"The required additional funding is available within the Council's approved capital programme - within the Coalville Regeneration Framework budget line - and Cabinet has the power to vire the money from the Coalville Regeneration Framework line to the Marlborough Square project if it wishes. 

"The Council is using a grant of £360,000 from the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership to finance the total cost of the scheme."

The report listed some of the reasons for what has been a near 18-month delay.

It adds: "The Highways Authority has required the submission of significantly more information than their Guidance Notes initially indicated and there have been a number of technical changes imposed by third parties.

"The Council's preferred contractor (Stepnell) was originally selected in late 2021 via a two-stage mini-competition using a framework agreement. Stepnell has retained its interest in undertaking the construction contract, despite almost 18 months of delay since its initial price submission."