Ipswich Museum revamp £2.7m over budget

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

Renovations to a 140-year-old museum in Ipswich are running £2.7m over budget.

The plans, which had an initial budget of £8.7million, include an additional gallery, new educational space, a new cafe, and an improved shop and toilets.

Ipswich Borough Council said inflation and supply chain disruption have contributed to the overspend.

Further lottery funding and council money could be used to cover the increased costs.

The museum, in High Street, closed in October 2022 for the start of the refurbishment and the council hoped to reopen it in summer 2025.

The museum contains collections covering both human and natural history

Council bosses will now look at how to fund the budget gap.

Ideas put forward include downgrading some of their plans, including removing hanging exhibits from ceilings and scaling back on some displays.

That however would still leave a financial hole and council officers are recommending applying for a further £1.3m in lottery funding and matching that with council cash.

Labour councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, said: "We can't just ponder on it, we've got to deal with it.

"All the way along we have tried to cut back. but they're relatively small things and even though we cut several thousands of pounds from the plans we were still left with something substantial to find."

She said a £113,000 windfall from an over valuation of business rates could be used to fund a loan.

The councillor added:"We've got to do everything we can. We have to put our building back together again for everyone in Ipswich and our visitors.

"We're determined do the right thing for the building, for its history and for its future."

She hopes the financial shortfall will not delay the re-opening.