Timeline of disaster for the budget-busting Civic halls
It has hosted Chuck Berry, Oasis, Slade and Robert Plant, was the home of the record breaking Blast Off! club night, and is thought to be Europe’s oldest rock ‘n’ roll venue.
But after a series of failings on the part of Wolverhampton Council, the project to revamp the city’s Civic halls spiralled out of control. Here’s where it all went wrong:
March 2015 – Wolverhampton Council announce plans to close the Civic halls for a major revamp, saying the famous old venue is no longer fit for purpose. The cost is put at £10.4 million, including an increased capacity and a new balcony for the Wulfrun Hall. Bosses say it will be fully reopened for the Grand Slam of Darts in November 2016.
December 2015 – the Civic halls close for what is now a £14.4 million refurbishment that bosses say will “set the venue up for the next 100 years”. It includes plans for new bars, a new ceiling and extended stages, with capacity increased to 2,500 seats and 3,500 standing. The venue is expected to fully reopen in March 2018.
January 2017 – The completion date is pushed back to October 2018 after structural problems emerge. Council bosses also promise to find a new home for Civic's historic organ.
August 2017 – A further delay is announced following the discovery of what council bosses call "small amount of asbestos".
October 2017 – the venue temporarily reopens for a series of shows, including the Grand Slam of Darts.
November 2017 – Wolverhampton Council announces it has scrapped the original scheme after major issues emerge, including the need for a new roof, new electrics and a substantial asbestos removal programme. It is revealed that the project is likely to cost at least £36m, with bosses also considering ditching the revamp entirely.
January 2018 – It emerges that work on the halls had to be halted due to engineers discovering its foundations were in danger of being crushed.
January 2018 – councillors approve an extra £23.6m for the scheme and announce a new opening date of autumn 2020.
June 2018 – a shock report brands the council's project management of the scheme “inadequate” and reveals initial budget projections were unrealistic. Tory councillors accuse the authority of demonstrating “appalling neglect” over the development.
June 2018 – it emerges that the council has spent almost £2m on “design and trial fees” for the project.
July 2018 – Wolverhampton Council’s then managing director, Keith Ireland, admits he has no idea when the project will be finished and how much it will cost. He told councillors that “intrusive surveys” had not been done at the start of the project, admitting: “This is pretty disastrous for us."
July 2018 – Council bosses reveal they are considering legal action against previous advisors involved in the project.
February 2019 – True to its pledge, the council does indeed find a new home for the Civic's "priceless" organ – a landfill site – after admitting the 80-year-old instrument had been wrecked by asbestos.
March 2019 – The council announces the halls will reopen in autumn 2021 at a cost of £38.1m.
