Council strikes 拢14.2m deal with Banner Holdings to finish exterior, as design changes to cut costs

Work will restart on Rafael Vi帽oly鈥檚 troubled Colchester visual arts centre next week after the council reached an agreement with contractor Banner Holdings to complete the scheme鈥檚 exterior under a fixed-price contract.

A key element of the original facade design will be scrapped to save money. The council says 鈥渟everal million鈥� more than the 拢14.2m agreed for the exterior will be needed to finish the interior.

Work on the building came to a virtual standstill at the end of last year when glazing contractor Eiffel and cladding specialist Richardson Roofing left the job because of technical and funding problems. Richardson鈥檚 contract allowed it to retire from the job after completing 拢2.1m of work.

Under the new deal, Banner will complete the building鈥檚 exterior for a fixed price of 拢14.2m, which was the original budget for the whole building.

A section of the glass facade that was to have opened to provide access for large artworks, will be scrapped to save money. This section would have been technically problematic as it was 10m wide, 3.5m high and moved like a giant garage door. Instead, a sliding door will be installed.

Richardson Roofing will return to site next week, but Eiffel will not be returning to the job. Banner said it was tendering the glazing package for the side and roof of the building, and a second package for the front facade, including the opening section. Banner has until next May to finish the exterior.

Work remaining on the interior includes completing the M&E package, the auditorium, toilet fit-out and flooring.

The council is in talks with the original funders of the project, which include the East of England Development Agency and the Arts Council, to pay for the completion. Colchester council said it was 鈥渧ery optimistic鈥� it would get the money.

The council added that the interior work could go to another contractor. A council spokesperson said: 鈥淚f Banner can persuade us it can do the interior fit-out we will look at that, but we will be also be looking to other contractors and are keeping our options open at the moment.鈥�