Ipswich Museum’s reopening is delayed until 2026 due to rising costs after exceeding its initial budget.
The redevelopment costs went over the original budget. The project now needs about £11.8 million. Supplier costs rose, and they added digital features.
Ipswich Council will discuss the museum’s costs at a meeting Tuesday evening. Councillor Carole Jones will present a cost report. The project already went over budget in February due to high prices and inflation.
The museum closed in October 2022 for renovations. It is a Grade II*-listed building owned by Ipswich Council. They received grants for the project.
Grants came from various organizations, including Arts Council England. The museum wants to restore the building, which has been there since 1881, and improve gallery displays.
The plans include a new lift and staircase, as well as new toilets and updated flooring. Crews made big progress on construction recently, and the inside layout is starting to form. A temporary roof should be there for months.
Councillor Jones said work progresses well, but renovating a listed building is complex, and some parts take longer than expected. The base build goes on until spring 2025. Then the gallery gets fitted out, and they hope to open in the first half of 2026.