Council to discuss £7m convention centre refurb

Harrogate Convention Centre could be renovated if the funding plans are approved

A £7m refurbishment of Harrogate Convention Centre would "significantly improve revenue opportunities", according to the facility's director.

Councillors are set to meet next week to discuss plans to fund an expansion of the King's Road venue's Studio Two in order to boost capacity.

The council's deputy leader, Gareth Dadd, said the centre is a venue that "promotes the town and Yorkshire on a national stage, bringing in visitors from across the country".

It comes nine moths after a multi-million pound scheme to overhaul the site was scrapped due to spiralling costs.

Dadd said: "It is critical that we retain the benefits of the convention centre while at the same time finding opportunities to reduce our subsidy, improve the facilities and align the centre with our long-term vision for Harrogate.

"We want to take the convention centre forward while still protecting taxpayers' money and promoting the economy of the town, and the proposals for the investment will be carefully considered during the executive's meeting."

The convention centre, which was built in 1982, currently has a 2,000-seat auditorium and 13,000 square metres of exhibition space.

However, it has lacked larger breakout rooms over the years, so the proposals to extend them could help bring in an extra £1.5m in revenue annually.

The convention centre's main auditorium can seat up to 2,000 people

Centre director, Paula Lorimer, said the plans for Studio Two are "very welcome and would significantly improve revenue opportunities".

She added: "This venue is integral to the visitor economy of Harrogate. Its conferences, exhibitions, corporate events, banquets and live entertainment create jobs and business to the town's shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels – worth more than £45 million a year to the local economy.

"In recent years, the centre's performance has continued to improve, and the planned investment would help this trend to continue."

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