Councillors kick-start plans for £47m renovation of Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet has tonight shown its support to the project, which could cost £47m once completed.

The 40-year-old venue - which is currently being used as an NHS Nightingale hospital and could remain on standby until March - has warned there is a "very real risk" it may not survive without investment.

Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC) is forecast to lose £710,000 in 2019/20 alone, having lost £829,956 in the five financial years prior.

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Centre director Paula Lorimer said the works would "reinvigorate" the site and she will seek approval of the £1m from an extraordinary full council meeting next Wednesday.

She told cabinet members tonight that the district's economy would suffer without the upgrades.

Ms Lorimer said: "We need a successful HCC. I'm not trying to pretend we could be doing better and I believe we can do better with the right investment - and that investment needs to happen now.

"The town will wither on the vine - I believe - if we do not have a HCC.

"While I'm proud to have a Nightingale hospital and of our contribution, I think we are having a real feel of what it could be like if we didn't have HCC."

At a meeting in December, councillors were told the centre's finances were "worsening", but that was all that was said before discussions were taken behind closed doors.

Members of the council's overview and scrutiny committee had also flagged up worries when a report revealed the centre's lettings were “significantly under target”.

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The council has already invested more than £4.3m in the centre since 2014.

Ms Lorimer said the planned upgrades are needed for it to compete with other venues including a new £260m conference and exhibition centre in Gateshead.

The council estimates Harrogate Convention Centre attracts about 157,000 visitors each year.

It had previously estimated the centre's impact on the local economy to be £60m - but this is now thought to be £35m.

Ms Lorimer said this could be increased with the investments after the centre is handed back over to business from the NHS which is not paying any rent.

She also said the upgrades could halve utility costs, with bills expected to reach £19m over the next 20 years.

Plans for the rebuild could involve three exhibition halls being demolished to make way for a new 5,000 sq m hall and a refurbished auditorium.

The council would need about £20m to construct the first phase of redevelopment, with another phase later. It is hoping to find grants to cover the costs.

Ms Lorimer said: "My ambition is for us to return to the top tier of conference and exhibition centres in the UK."

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter