Southampton arts complex extra £2m funding agreed

A council has agreed to fund a further £2m towards a new arts complex in Southampton.

The scheme, which includes apartments, shops, cafes and an arts space, is the flagship of the new Cultural Quarter around the Guildhall Square area.

The city council cited higher than expected tender prices to fit out the complex.

Causes of the extra cost were revealed in a report, external earlier this month.

The £18m construction cost is being funded by development partner Grosvenor, external while fit-out costs, which have now risen to £25m, are being funded by the council along with others including the Arts Council and the University of Southampton.

Simon Letts, Labour leader of Southampton City Council, had said: "I don't think we could have done it in any different way.

"We have to pay what the market demands to get a project done."

Even critics of Southampton's Labour-run administration agreed the only option was the pay the extra cash.

Keith Morrell, leader of the Councillors Against Cuts Group, said: "We have to finish the project, otherwise we're going to run into huge compensation costs and delays."

Construction is already under way at the site and the complex is due to open next year.