Published 29/09/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

Herefordshire Council is set to roll over nearly £57 million of its capital building budget into future financial years following project delays and contract renegotiations.

A report presented to the council’s cabinet detailed that approximately 39% of the total capital allocation for 2026 and 2027 will remain unspent in the current period.

Major developments affected by spending slippage include the revamp of Hereford’s Museum and Art Gallery on Broad Street, where nearly £9.5 million is being delayed for value engineering to keep the scheme within its £20.5 million budget. Over £5 million of earmarked spending for Shire Hall in Hereford has also slipped, alongside £10 million for the expansion of Aylestone School and £5.2 million for rebuilding Westfield Special School in Leominster.

Further spending delays include £2.8 million budgeted for housing acquisitions, £750,000 for bus shelter upgrades, and £450,000 for household food waste caddies following changes to kerbside collection schedules.

Conversely, the council reported savings in some areas, including £800,000 saved after an equipment review determined a planned replacement of the gritting fleet was unnecessary for now.

However, the flood-mitigating wetland at Merton Meadow recorded a £328,000 overspend due to necessary foundation redesigns following local flooding events.

Opposition representatives expressed concern over the delayed timeline. Independents for Herefordshire Group Leader, Councillor Liz Harvey, warned that deferring projects risks increased costs. She said: "Many of these plans now face cost escalation from being kicked down the road, including construction inflation running at 6%. Time-limited funding for the Museum and Shire Hall schemes risks clawback from the government."

Council Leader, Councillor Jonathan Lester, defended the administration's overall record and rejected suggestions that the delays indicated wider failure. He said: "The council had a record delivery of its capital programme last year. To say that certain projects spill over to the next is darkening a picture that’s quite sunny."