Ipswich Museum renovations supported by council

The museum originally opened in 1881 and closed in 2022 for refurbishment work

Renovations to a 140-year-old museum have been supported, despite costs running £2.7m over budget.

Ipswich Borough Council's executive said it would back the £11.4m redevelopment and apply for more National Lottery funding.

If the application is unsuccessful, the project could be delayed for at least 18 more months, the council warned.

The authority said inflation and supply chain disruption contributed to the overspend.

The museum closed in October 2022 for renovations and expansion, including a new educational space, an additional gallery, and a new coffee shop.

The plans had an initial budget of £8.7m, with half of that coming from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).

On Tuesday, councillors expressed their support for ensuring the project was delivered in full, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Members unanimously decided to apply for a second round of funding from the NLHF.

The outcome of the second application is expected by the end of June

According to the council report, the NLHF indicated it would consider a formal application for additional funding if a similar amount was provided by the council.

If rejected, the project could be halted for a complete review, delaying it for at least 18 more months.

Conservative councillor Ian Fisher said: "It's really hard to see what other option we have because we are so far down this road now.

"If we don't vote for it we get something that's not going to be anywhere near what we wanted."

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The next opportunity to apply for further funding is on February 22, with a decision expected by the end of June.

Labour councillor Carole Jones, portfolio holder for planning and museums, said: "There are improvements that we need to make and this is not an extravagant scheme.

"We are where we are, and we can only go forward."