Derby’s Assembly Rooms, which has been out of action since a fire in 2014, will not be ready to reopen until November 2021—12 months later than planned.
The 1,200-seat, city council-run venue suffered extensive damage because of a fire in the plant room, which powered the electricity and lighting supply, on top of its car park.
The Labour group on the authority wanted to knock down the building and replace it with a £44 million music and performance venue. But when the Conservatives took control, they decided to refurbish it at a cost of £24 million.
Deputy council leader Councillor Matthew Holmes said the authority had been given the wrong advice that the work would be finished in a year.
He said, “we’re keeping a very careful eye on the management of the Assembly Rooms project and are making sure that the budget and revised timescale remain on track.
“We’re committed to this scheme as the council's number one city centre priority, to get the new improved Assembly Rooms open as soon as practicably possible, and to continue to do everything possible to deliver it in terms of timescale and budget.
“It’s disappointing that the venue won't be open sooner but it’s important that we get it right for the city.”
Work to remove asbestos from the building is expected to start early in November.
Meanwhile, another council venue, the Guildhall opposite the Assembly Rooms, is to remain closed for “an extended period of time” because of safety concerns.
The building shut in January 2019 after problems were discovered with the auditorium ceiling. Now contractors have found that the fabric of the building is in a much worse condition than was first thought.
The Christmas show The Christmas Toy Shop Mystery has been cancelled.
The council says it has decided to “take this opportunity to undertake a holistic review of the building to determine what is required to ensure the Guildhall Theatre’s long-term future”.