The cost of building a new storage facility for Aberdeen Art Gallery’s collection of works has nearly doubled.
A site in Northfield has been earmarked for the 25,700sq Museum and Collections Centre as part of a multimillion-pound upgrade of the city-centre attraction.
The cost was originally estimated at about £1.2million, but that was later updated to £3.85million by the time elected members approved the project in February this year.
However, members of the council’s finance and resources committee were told in private session yesterday that the bill would now be in the region of £5.8million.
The rocketing cost has prompted questions about the likelihood of the wider art gallery revamp – which has proved highly controversial – coming in under the budget of £30million.
Councillors were told yesterday that the rising price was largely due to the increasing cost of construction work in the booming Granite City.
However, a report also revealed that about £1million of mechanical and electrical works and a further £500,000 for structural work to support heavy loads was also required.
It is understood that a debate on the report escalated into angry exchanges between Labour and SNP councillors at the meeting.
Afterwards, committee convener Willie Young confirmed that members had voted by 8-7 to agree recommendations to proceed with the scheme at the higher rate.
The SNP tried to refer the matter to full council, but Mr Young blocked the move, arguing that a contract had to be signed by December 9.
SNP group leader Callum McCaig said: “I think this project was of questionable value at its original estimate and now, under the watch of Willie Young, costs have rocketed and it is getting to the stage where it is simply not economically viable to push ahead with it and we should be looking at alternatives.
“I am extremely disappointed that Willie Young, who has presided over the ballooning of the costs, has denied the right for all councillors to decide if we should throw millions more at this.”
Mr Young responded: “This is not about a blame game, this is about the cost and whether we as a council want to put regeneration into Northfield – that answer from the administration is yes and from the SNP is no.”