Council’s £5m ‘public service hub’ project is delayed over rising costs

A NORTH Yorkshire council’s plans to create a new ‘‘public service hub’’ have been delayed after officials realised the scheme would be twice as expensive as previously thought.

Ryedale District Council aims to develop a public service hub by relocating a range of services, currently delivered from different locations, into one new development in Malton town centre.

In addition, the relocation of the district council from Old Malton Road to a redeveloped community house in Malton would free up land to be used for housing.

But the council released a statement yesterday saying that feasibility work for the public services hub identified costs “which are substantially higher than anticipated”, meaning the original timescale of completion by next year will now have to be revised.

According to a council report, the estimated costs are now £5m, twice the amount committed to the project from council reserves earlier this year.

Coun Luke Ives, who chairs the council’s Policy and Resources Committee, said: “The council is committed to working with our partners, creating a fit-forpurpose place to work for our employees and delivering new homes whilst ensuring we make the most of each and every taxpayers’ pound.

“The council is committed to pushing ahead with these projects because they help to solve a number of long-term issues – such as dealing with high maintenance costs on the existing council building and public services that are delivered from lots of different places – but importantly this also supports people in our area getting better services, more efficiently.”