Blackpool's Abingdon Street Market £700k over-budget and reopening delayed

It has also emerged work is behind schedule, with the market hall not due to re-open until November 2023, although the first phase of food and beverage units is due to open this November.

Changes to the original designs have been blamed for the overspend on the £3.6m scheme, funded by the government's Getting Building Fund.

Coun Tony Williams, leader of the opposition Conservative group, blasted the council for the delays and overspend.

He said: "This is just another in a long line of over budget and late delivery projects this council are responsible for.

"Of course, the financial shortfall will be found as it’s a council project, but we should be asking which services budget this shortfall will be taken from, and why has the council failed again in their due diligence and costing.

"Abingdon Street Market has a long and respectable history. I just hope they have retained the character of the building and the new tenants will be offering products and services the people of Blackpool want. But I welcome any aesthetic improvement to Blackpool’s heritage."

The council said some of the overspend, around £300, 000, will be met by the market's operators including an initial £100,000 payment towards fitting out costs with a further £200,000 generated from revenue from the first year of food and drink trading.

The council will contribute the remaining £363,400 towards the shortfall.

A council spokesperson said: "The actual scheme on site which is being delivered and has planning permission, is a more comprehensive scheme and offer, as compared to an original scheme proposal.

"The reported overspend is projected against the original budget due to design changes following expert advice from a market operator consultant.

"However some of these costs have been off-set against additional grant funding and fit out being provided by the proposed tenant.”

The refurbishment includes new food and beverage units, produce and artisan stalls, and seating for around 250 people.

Following stripping out of the market hall last summer, the main work began in January this year but has been delayed due to the poor state of the building.