Update 4 August 2026

This follows its consideration of the council's Year of Delivery capital projects programme, including updated redevelopment proposals for Shire Hall and Hereford Museum & Art Gallery (HMAG).

Since the last public update on 30 June, there has been significant public, stakeholder and media interest in both projects, generating considerable discussion and debate about their future. The council welcomes and recognises this strong public interest and is committed to providing further information as proposals continue to develop.
 
As previously outlined, the council remains committed to securing a sustainable future for both Shire Hall and Hereford Museum & Art Gallery, ensuring these important heritage assets can continue to serve residents and visitors for generations to come.
 
However, like many heritage-led regeneration projects across the country, both schemes have faced significant challenges. Long-standing structural issues, construction cost inflation, rising delivery costs and other unforeseen issues identified during project development have all had an impact on the proposals. Due to the complicated nature of major projects on historic building with protected status, these problems took some time to fully investigate and understand; to develop viable options to address them, and produce final proposals to put forward.
 
Given these challenges, the council has reviewed and refined the schemes to ensure they remain deliverable. This has involved considering options to reduce, re-scope or phase some elements of the projects while protecting their core purpose, public benefits and intended outcomes. While these have been challenging decisions, they have been necessary to create proposals that are financially sustainable and capable of being delivered.
 
Alongside this review, progress continues on both schemes. Contractor procurement activity is advancing, engagement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government remains positive, and the council is working with a new project team on Shire Hall while finalising the appointment of specialist contractors for HMAG. The work currently under way includes further design development, technical investigations, surveys and other pre-construction activity needed to refine the proposals and support future decision-making. 
 
Both projects are supported through a combination of council investment and external funding from a range of partners, including the UK Government Stronger Towns Fund, Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. As proposals have evolved, the council has continued to work closely with funding bodies to ensure that any revised schemes remain aligned with funding requirements, deliver agreed outcomes and progress through the appropriate governance and approval processes. Each funding partner has its own oversight arrangements and decision-making responsibilities, making ongoing collaboration and engagement essential as the projects move forward.
 
This ongoing collaboration includes the Stronger Towns programme, where funding previously identified and allocated to the projects reflects the position originally associated with the schemes. The Stronger Hereford Board is aware of the revised proposals for the Museum and Art Gallery and Library schemes, but has not yet formed a view on them.
 
To date, approximately £2.6 million of funding allocated through the Stronger Towns programme has been invested in the Museum and Art Gallery project and around £600,000 in the Library project. As is typical for major capital and regeneration schemes, this expenditure has supported extensive design development, technical investigations, surveys, professional advice and other pre-construction activity necessary to develop proposals, assess options and inform future decisions. The outputs from this work continue to support the development of the revised schemes currently under consideration.
 
The council recognises that revised proposals for both projects continue to be considered through the appropriate governance and funding processes, including collaboration and engagement with the Stronger Hereford Board and other funding partners. We are now working towards the Stronger Hereford Board meeting in September, where we will present further detail on the revised proposals. The council remains committed to working closely with the Board and all funding partners as the projects progress

Cllr Jonathan Lester, Leader of Herefordshire Council said:

" Effective scrutiny is an important part of the council's governance arrangements and we are grateful to the committee member’s constructive challenge and engagement. We understand that residents and stakeholders want clarity about the future of these important projects, and that is exactly what we are working to provide.

"Our priority is to deliver projects that are ambitious, achievable and provide lasting benefits for Hereford. By working closely with the Stronger Towns Board, government and our other funding partners, we are ensuring that both Shire Hall and Hereford Museum & Art Gallery can move forward on a sustainable footing while protecting the outcomes that matter most to residents, visitors and the wider city.

"We remain fully committed to these projects and look forward to sharing further details on the revised proposals in September."

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30 June 2026

Herefordshire Council has today, 30 June, updated key stakeholders on progress of the Hereford Museum and Art Gallery (HMAG) and Shirehall projects.  

The updates were shared as the Council published papers ahead of its Connected Communities Scrutiny Committee on 7 July. 

The updates form part of the council’s ongoing engagement with stakeholders and provide the latest information on progress, current activity and next steps for both schemes.
 
HMAG and Shirehall are two of Hereford’s most important heritage assets and will play an important role in supporting the city’s cultural, economic and civic future.
 
The Committee will be updated on the progress of these and other capital schemes being delivered by the council. 
 
Further information will continue to be shared as these and other projects progress.

Wording of email is as follows:

Dear stakeholder,

Subject: Update on Shirehall and Hereford Museum & Art Gallery (HMAG) Projects

I am writing to update you on the future of two of Herefordshire’s most important heritage assets: Shire Hall and Hereford Museum & Art Gallery (HMAG).

Following a comprehensive review of both projects, Herefordshire Council remains fully committed to restoring these historic buildings and securing their long-term future for residents and visitors for generations to come. However, detailed investigations have identified additional costs and structural challenges that mean the original proposals are no longer affordable in their current form. As a result, revised schemes are being developed that retain the core ambition of both projects while ensuring they can be delivered in a financially responsible and sustainable way, and providing value for money to council tax-payers and other funders.

At the Shirehall, following a detailed survey of the structure, it has become apparent that the original restoration plan, including to locate a new library in the Assembly Room, would potentially cost more than its original £8.5 million budget. Further assessments and surveys were carried out in late 2025 to fully understand the structural challenges and associated costs, and different options were considered to reduce expenditure. After having validated those investigations throughout early 2026, it is proposed, subject to further design work and approvals, to now locate the library centre in Court Room Two and surrounding areas, delivering a more cost-effective solution nearer to the original budget estimate. 

Alongside a new library layout, supported by £2.6 million in funding from the UK Government’s Stronger Towns Fund, it is proposed that Herefordshire Council will invest £8.5 million in essential structural works to stabilise and secure the early 19th century building. This revised scheme will enable us to achieve its original ambitions – to provide a modern and accessible library and learning centre – and will help preserve the long-term future of this Grade II* listed landmark, unlocking more potential phases of development down the line. Future phases of development, subject to further funding, could include the restoration of the Assembly Room to its original purpose as a space for public events, ceremonies and exhibitions.

A review of the HMAG redevelopment plans found that delivering the original design in full, including building a new upper floor and roof terraces, would cost approximately up to £14.5 million more than the project’s original budget of £20.5 million. After further detailed surveys to find alternative options and savings, the council proposes to focus on restoring and enhancing the building without the new upper floor and roof terraces. 

Funding of £20.8 million has been identified for this project, including £8.4 million from Herefordshire Council, £5 million each from the UK Government Stronger Towns Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as other external funders. Further funding will be pursued through future grant opportunities and/or donations to meet the costs to complete the works, which is expected to be in the region of £24.4 million. 

The revised proposals include the careful restoration of the Grade II* listed building, with repairs to its structure and historic fabric intended to help safeguard its long-term future, while creating a new visitor attraction for nationally significant artefacts, such as the Herefordshire Hoard. Subject to detailed design, statutory approvals and funding requirements, the scheme will deliver improvements to environmental performance, accessibility and the visitor experience while respecting the building’s historic character. 

Proposals currently being developed include refurbished gallery spaces, a new learning room and restoration of the historic Woolhope Room. The ambition is to create a more welcoming and engaging museum that enhances opportunities for people to explore Herefordshire’s art, history and culture, supports learning and community participation, and strengthens the city’s cultural offer. As the project progresses through the detailed design and delivery stages, proposals will continue to be refined, with opportunities for future enhancements considered as part of a phased approach to the museum’s long-term development. At the same time, we will continue to develop exciting partnership opportunities with national heritage and arts institutions with the intent to host major exhibitions in the future.

Further planning, design and project work is underway for both projects. At this stage we are looking at construction for both projects beginning in the Summer of 2027 while more details about the revised schemes, including updated costs and delivery programme timings, will be published as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will continue to work with partners, funders, including the Hereford Stronger Towns Board and investors to identify opportunities for additional investment and support for the schemes. 

While these progress, we remain committed to providing the best possible day-to-day cultural and heritage offer for Herefordshire. The museum service has remained active through the Museum-on-the-Move programme, with the service visiting more than 30 locations across the county, and engaged with over 15,000 people through outreach, touring exhibitions and community activity. The Old House is a fully accredited museum in its own right, presenting four centuries of history and heritage.

A fully functioning temporary library operates from the Town Hall, Hereford providing book borrowing, reservations, click-and-collect services, public computers, free Wi-Fi and spaces for reading and study. There is also a library at Belmont, which has recently benefited from improvements and refurbishment. In addition, the History Store in the city centre hosts a wide variety of activities including community-led tours, conservation workshops, talks, family activities and other events. 

We recognise that stakeholders, funders, partners and residents will be disappointed that the original plans cannot be delivered in full or that the projects will take longer than anticipated. However, these are the right decisions given what we have discovered since the projects were first commissioned, and when set against the current economic climate. 

We take seriously our responsibilities as custodians of the Shirehall and HMAG, and remain committed to bringing these historic and culturally important buildings back into use for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.

Kind regards,

Hilary Hall,

Corporate Director, Community Wellbeing

Herefordshire Council

 

John Hobbs,

Corporate Director, Economy & Environment

Herefordshire Council