London firm to benefit from North Walsham market overspend

Liberal Democrat-controlled North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) wants to spend the extra money on the scheme to reshape North Walsham's marketplace, which had an original budget of £2.2m.

As part of the extra cash, chartered landscape architects Influence - the main consultants on the project - will split the lion’s share of an extra £227,000 with Norfolk County Council’s project management department.

The proposal has prompted concerns from Conservative and independent councillors about “project creep” as well as a lack of transparency.

The money  - which would add an extra 18pc to the scheme's existing budget - was described by Tory councillor Christopher Cushing as “two years' worth of council tax increases which could be earmarked for something else”.

The Influence website. In addition to their EC4 headquarters they have a Nottingshire office but no East Anglian presence. (Image: Influence)

As part of the project, pavements are being widened, traffic rerouted, the bus station moved and “landscape and amenity features” added, in an attempt to make the centre of North Walsham more attractive to visitors.

The scheme is already proving controversial, with many traders complaining about the impact of the works, which have turned the area into a construction site.

At Wednesday's Oversight and Scrutiny Committee meeting, Lib Dem councillor Eric Seward said the development, which began in September and is scheduled for completion by the spring, would improve trade and visitor numbers.

It has received several grants from public bodies, some of which had to be spent within a matter of weeks of receipt, and has suffered from inflationary pressures.

The budget and scope of the project has “waxed and waned”, the council's assistant director for sustainable growth Robert Young explained.

Mr Young described “increases in a number of areas”, specifying fees to Norfolk County Council, and design consultancy fees for work “rescoping and redefining the scope of the project”.

He confirmed to this newspaper that the main consultants on the scheme were Influence, whose offices lie in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Cllr Richard Kershaw, who sent his apologies for absence to the meeting, discussing the plan with north Walsham residents (Image: Archant)

If the proposal is approved, the money will come from the council’s business rates retention reserve, which stands at £600,000.

The final decision will be taken at a meeting of all 40 councillors on Tuesday, but they will not have any opportunity to analyse where the scheme’s costs have overrun in advance.

A detailed breakdown of the budget, requested by independent councillor Nigel Housden, was not prepared by officers in time for this week's meeting.

Officers have promised to have one ready for Tuesday’s meeting.