A multi-million pound investment in the Harrogate Convention Centre has started as part of a wide-ranging package of improvements to ensure the venue can "fulfil its potential and boost the local economy."
Business leaders in the spa town have welcomed the developments and claimed that the convention centre is a central factor in Harrogate’s economy, bringing in hundreds of thousands of delegates from across the country every year.
Delegates attending events at the convention centre significantly contribute to the town’s tourism sector, which is worth £483.4 million annually with 3.1 million visitors each year.
The £9.4 million scheme overseen by North Yorkshire Council to create new larger breakout rooms in the venue’s Studio Two has started today (Monday) to ensure that the centre can thrive in the extremely competitive conference market.
And other smaller improvement projects are already being carried out to update the building and bring a far more contemporary feel to the venue, that dates from the 1980s.
These schemes include replacing outdated cooling systems and introducing new carpets and wooden frontages for interior walls.
North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, said:
“The Harrogate Convention Centre has been such an important asset to the region since it opened more than 40 years ago.
“However, we recognise that the building needs to be modernised to make sure that it can continue to compete alongside its rivals in the conferencing sector.
“The overhaul of Studio Two is at the heart of this programme to upgrade the convention centre, but there is also a whole package of other works which will make a real difference.
“We are committed to making sure that the very best facilities possible are provided at the convention centre to help to boost the economy of not just Harrogate, but the whole of North Yorkshire as well.”
The transformation of Studio Two, which will provide breakout conferencing facilities for about 1,200 delegates, is expected to generate more than £1.5 million annually by the 10th year.
The project is expected to cost in the region of £9.4 million after final design refinements are made. This investment is forecast to be repaid within a decade through the additional income generated by the enhanced venue.
Contractors from Galliford Try have been appointed for the upgrade to Studio Two and the project is expected to be completed in the spring of next year.
The convention centre was last month named as the venue of the year with less than 20,000 square metres of event space at the prestigious Association of Event Organisers’ Excellence Awards, which are often referred to as the Oscars of the events industry.
The Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive, Martin Mann, said:
“The Harrogate Convention Centre has been part of the foundations of North Yorkshire's economy for more than 40 years.
“The work that the council is undertaking at the centre is vital to ensuring its long-term future, and the commitment to the venue is very welcome.
“We would like to see this project re-energise the conversation regionally, to facilitate further investment that boosts both the convention centre's attractiveness nationally as a 'go-to' venue, and the employment and revenue it brings to the Harrogate area.
“Harrogate Chamber is also hopeful that the investment and the improvements to the convention centre will allow its staff to engage even more effectively with local businesses and bring a greater number of delegates to the town to see all that we have to offer.”
Other works which have been carried out at the convention centre include a programme of energy improvements which has cut annual electricity bills by almost £150,000.
New controls have been introduced and key equipment upgraded to ensure systems only run when needed meaning that the site has significantly reduced its energy use and peak demand.
Improvements such as timed event scheduling, more efficient pumps and upgraded air conditioning systems have modernised the way the building operates, making it both more efficient and more sustainable.
The potential for further savings is being explored with plans to make the venue’s electrical systems more efficient.
Built in 1982, the centre, which is the only facility of its kind in North Yorkshire, is situated in the heart of Harrogate and currently has one of the largest purpose-built auditoriums in the UK, along with 13,000 square metres of event space.
However, the absence of sizeable breakout spaces has limited its ability to host larger conferences which would significantly benefit the economy for Harrogate and the wider region.
Following the launch of North Yorkshire Council in 2023, a marketing exercise was undertaken by a consultancy firm, 31Ten, which has wide experience of the conference market, to highlight future opportunities for the convention centre.
The decision to tender the most cost-effective solution for the redevelopment of Studio Two was approved by members of the council’s executive in December 2024.
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