By Brian Allison, local government reporter

THE COST OF a refurbishment of the McManus Galleries in Dundee has shot up by more than £600,000.

Following a tendering process all the offers submitted for the project exceeded the budgeted amount, increasing costs from £7.8 million to £8.4 million.

To ensure there are no further cost increases the project is to be rigorously monitored by council officials.

Alterations and refurbishment are designed to restore the galleries to their original Victorian splendour, inside and out, as well as significantly improving facilities for visitors.

The project attracted a grant of more than £4.9 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Initially Dundee City Council asked for £3.75 million but fund officials recommended it should be increased to fund a more ambitious revamp.

Also involved is £700,000 from the European Regional Development Fund and £520,000 from Historic Scotland.

It was intended that the council would provide the remaining £1.7 million of the original budget, but that has had to be increased to £2.3 million.

Depute chief executive (finance) David Dorward expressed concern that, due to the complex nature of the project, there is a risk of the cost continuing to increase.

He has been given assurances by leisure and communities director Stewart Murdoch and city architectural services officer Rob Pedersen the project will be monitored to ensure it is delivered within the revised budget.

Mr Pedersen said the McManus redevelopment comprises three phases:

Conversion of Barrack Street Museum as a temporary home for the McManus collections, which has already been done.

Alterations and renovations to the galleries.

Fitting out the displays at McManus. Design development is under way.

The refurbishment includes a new south entrance to the galleries, a new feature stairwell inside, stonework and roofing works, a new kitchen, internal cafe and toilet facilities and an outside patio cafe.

It is the cost of these works that has increased.

Muirfield (Contracts) Ltd of Dundee submitted the lowest tender of around £5.9 million but it was still higher than the council had anticipated.

Mr Pedersen said the council had negotiated with Muirfield on a range of savings, resulting in the revised tender of £5.4 million, which has now been accepted.

To that has to be added allowances of £745,000 for professional services and a building warrant.

The McManus was closed last October to allow the project to go ahead and is not due to re-open until next year.