Calls to scrap Centenary Square ‘vanity project’ Costs for city centre project have spiralled by nearly £4m
COSTS for the revamp of Centenary Square have spiralled by £3.8 million, prompting a call for the ‘vanity project’ to be scrapped.
It comes as it was revealed a host of issues have held up the redevelopment, ranging from the Metro extension to the Conservative Party Conference.
On Tuesday. Birmingham City Council’s cabinet approved the extra funding required with leader Ian Ward (Lab, Shard End) stressing that it was important that the scheme is finished.
But Cllr Jon Hunt (Lib Dem group leader, Perry Barr) disagreed and said: “I have been unhappy with this from the start.
“It is not going to achieve a great deal. It’s primarily a vanity project.
“I do wonder whether consideration should be given to pulling it and cutting losses.”
Cllr Ward accused him of ‘seeking headlines’ and said his description was ‘wide of the mark’.
He added: “There really is no point at pulling it at this stage. We must press on with this and ensure we refurbish what is an important square in the city centre.”
When finished Centenary Square will feature a shallow water pool with jets and more than 40 lighting columns.
The pool will be drainable so it can host public events.
The project was originally set to cost in the region of £10 million but that has since crept up closer to £12 million. It is now expected to cost around £16 million. The cabinet report states there are a number of ‘constraints’ with the ‘complex’ project including the need to maintain foot traffic at all times, retain fire exits at the surrounding attractions, as well as the fact it sits on top of a railway tunnel. It was revealed earlier this year that an already revised completion date of October 2018 had been pushed back again until July next year.
The report lists further complications including the fact an underground machinery room had to be redesigned to protect the rail tunnel while excavation works uncovered unknown structures such as an old canal basin and even a mill.
Workers have also had to work around the ‘substantial’ foundations of the anti-terror measures built into the square to combat any vehicles mounting the kerb.
The Conservative Party conference in September and October also caused disruption. While the event was factored into the original schedule the other delays meant workers had to pause construction and had no access to the site for several days.
A further setback was caused by the Midland Metro Alliance building a retaining wall as part of the Metro extension.