Published 1/09/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

Around £4.5 million has been spent on a flagship Hereford building project that remains months away from starting on-site, three years after it was launched.

Herefordshire Council originally budgeted £20.5 million to transform the Grade II listed museum and library on Broad Street, which closed in 2023, into a "world-class" cultural attraction.

However, the council revealed in June that significant anticipated cost overruns forced it to scale back the development, removing key features including a centerpiece rooftop café and viewing platform.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show that by February, the council’s chief financial officer reported £4.3 million had already been spent on the project. The majority of this sum, £3.1 million, was allocated to professional fees. The internal report to the Stronger Towns Board, which oversees government-funded projects in the city, gave no indication at the time that plans would later be trimmed.

Despite the reduced scope, a council spokesperson stated that no "aborted costs" had been identified within the budget, emphasizing that the development remains a "live project".

City councillor Jeremy Milln, who chairs the Hereford Civic Society, criticized the expenditure and questioned the feasibility of the updated timeline, which targets work starting on-site next summer.

"I’m as alarmed as anyone," Cllr Milln said, describing the situation as "a mess".

He added: "The Civic Society has long advised the library to remain in Broad Street with modest improvements, perhaps a small retail or refreshment outlet at the front, and the museum and art gallery to move to the Shire Hall."

A separate FOI request revealed the council has spent a further £234,000 over the past three years maintaining the vacant Broad Street building. These costs cover security, utility bills, business rates, maintenance, and the clearance of former exhibits.

Meanwhile, the Shire Hall in St Peter’s Square, where the council now intends to relocate the main city library, has remained mostly disused for six years following a partial ceiling collapse. A further FOI response showed the council has spent £1.9 million maintaining the Shire Hall site since its closure.